Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Puts the Blue Jays on His Back… Again

It has been an outstanding start to the 2022 Major League Baseball season for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Toronto Blue Jays.

Opening the year with an emotional come-from-behind 10-8 victory over the Texas Rangers, and a 2-1 series win, the Jays moved on to New York, where they have won two out of three games to open a four-game set at Yankee Stadium.

Currently in a tie with the Tampa Bay Rays (4-2) for first atop the American League East, Toronto has produced the third-highest total runs in the A.L., while standing alone atop the entire league with 11 home runs hit in their six games played.

But it hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows, however, as the club currently sits fifth from the bottom in its staff’s combined earned run average (5.09), while tied for seventh in hits given up, sixth in runs scored against, and third in home runs given up.

Oh right, the Jays are also down their starting catcher Danny Jansen – who will be out a number of weeks with an oblique injury – and outfielder Teoscar Hernandez – who left Wednesday’s game early with what also appeared to be an ailment to his oblique/side.

What is working for Toronto is the club’s offence. As was heavily anticipated, the big bats have come out to play so far through six games of the season.

Leading the way is none other than 2021 A.L. MVP runner-up Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

His performance on Wednesday was nothing short of spectacular.

A first-inning home run straightaway to centerfield was overshadowed by a finger injury, his willingness to stick it out and his next three at-bats. Vladdy became the youngest player in MLB history to go four-for-four on the night, with four extra-base hits and three home runs.

Around FPC

NFL RUMORS: NFL Rumors: Brandin Cooks, Dallas Cowboys, Stephon Gilmore

NFL NEWS: Bengals Offseason: 5 Available Free Agents that Could Make an Impact

NFL DRAFT: 2022 Chiefs Draft Prospect: Tyreke Smith

NFL MOCK DRAFT: FPC 2022 NFL Mock Draft 4.0: Getting Defensive Rather Early

NHL: NHL Power Rankings: Panthers Rise To The Top, Toronto Gaining Momentum

PODCAST: Full Press NFL Podcast Ep 36: Deshaun Watson Traded To The Cleveland Browns

Yeah, it was some night.

And to think it almost never happened.

“I didn’t want to come out of the game,” Guerrero told reporters post-game. “I already had in my mind that I wasn’t going to come out of the game, no matter what. I told Charlie, ‘I’m not coming out of the game.’”

In the bottom of the second inning, Vladdy had his hand trampled over by the cleat of outfielder Aaron Hicks as he stretched to attempt a play at first base. Bleeding profusely, the officiating crew allowed Guerrero to receive some quick patchwork before resuming his post at first.

“He was bleeding a lot,” manager Charlie Montoyo said post-game. “I called Voon over, our trainer. It was like that Rocky movie. ‘Cut me, Mick!’ He did a great job, because he was bleeding a lot. They stopped the bleeding enough for him to do what he did.”

10 minutes later, Vladdy knocked his second of the day off Gerrit Cole – who was clearly showing signs of missing his sticky tack. And he did so on a pitch well outside the strike zone, in tight, down 0-2 and on a 98 mile-per-hour fastball.

lol Vladdy hit this 427 feet pic.twitter.com/GZef4HU0y1

— Andrew Mearns (@MearnsPSA) April 14, 2022

“There was a lot of blood, but I wanted to let the trainers work and see what they could do if they stopped the bleeding,” Montoyo continued. “They did. They deserve a lot of credit. We don’t really talk about trainers. Besides Vladdy, the trainers were the MVPs today.”

After giving up his third hit of the night – a double to right field – to Guerrero, the Yankees’ ace tipped his cap to the Jays’ slugger as he trotted down the base path.

Gerrit Cole on Vlad Jr.'s night: "If you had a cap, you'd tip it too." pic.twitter.com/CLrNbWtEZ0

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) April 14, 2022

As Buck Martinez perfectly put it on the Canadian broadcast, “You can step on my hand but it’s not going to hold me back.”

Having previously hit three home runs off Max Scherzer back on April 27, 2021 at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, FL., Guerrero matched his career-high on the first pitch he saw from Jonathan Loaisiga in the eighth inning, taking the Yankees’ reliever 443 feet deep to the second deck.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. walked into Yankee Stadium, faced the highest-paid pitcher in history, launched 1,286 feet worth of home runs and left the stadium with a W and a share of first place for Toronto. King maneuver.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) April 14, 2022

Putting on the ‘home run jacket’ three times, Guerrero picked up four extra-base hits and 14 total bases on the night. He sealed the deal with a quick snag on former Blue Jays’ MVP third baseman Josh Donaldson, making the final out on a hot shot to first base.

With the final showdown of the four-game series coming Thursday night in New York, Guerrero may get the night off as Blue Jays medical staff monitor his finger. Should that be the case, Toronto would be without three of its stronger bats, as Kevin Gausman takes to the mound opposite Luis Severino.

Opening pitch is set for 6:05 PM EST.