LOS ANGELES – It was a twist that could have turned the World Series around.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.. received a hanging broom from a world class pitcher/hitter Shohei Ohtani in the third inning of Game 4 of the World Series—and blasted it into the night sky just moments after Los Angeles Dodgers took the lead 1-0.
It was a decisive turnaround for the Blue Jays just hours after they lost a heartbreaking 18-inning game, leaving Toronto behind for the first time in the series – and Guerrero's homer gave the Jays a Game 4 lead they would never relinquish.
It was a recent October full of big moments created by the face of his franchise, and the fact that he faced a two-way Dodgers phenom adds to the developing storyline: Ohtani isn't the only superstar in this World Series.
“The sweep was huge,” manager John Schneider said after the win, which tied the series at two games apiece. “The Sweeper is a platform designed to generate pop-ups… and Vlad hit it with elite strikes. After last night [Game 3] and all the recognition that has come to Shohei individually and him on the mound today, it's a huge step on Vlad's part. This is a huge turnaround that will help us move forward. I think it gives [us] some momentum.”
Guerrero has provided momentum for the Blue Jays all month, hitting .419 with seven home runs this postseason. But don't call him just a slugger. While that description might fit his famous father, the younger Guerrero is much more than that—and his teammates have taken notice throughout the postseason.
“I grab some popcorn and watch him do his thing.”
Max Scherzer is a future Hall of Famer pitching in the World Series for his fourth different franchise, and even the 41-year-old right-hander is impressed with what he's seen from Guerrero on a nightly basis.
“It’s just locked and loaded,” Scherzer said. “He's such a force. For me, his greatness goes beyond his offense. It's also his defense and base running. He's a great player in every way.”
But nothing else Guerrero has done this season compares to the show he put on with a bat in his hands. Even his hitting coach, David Popkins, often watches his star like a fan.
“He pretty much enjoys the show, grabs some popcorn and watches him do his thing,” Popkins said with a laugh. “He's outpacing all the changes before we can get to him. I learn from him every day.”
“And when these things work, it's like Donkey Kong.”
This is a common theme for those who played with him this October.
Closer Jeff Hoffman said he was “on edge” every night, waiting for Guerrero to do something special. Sometimes it comes with a big home run to left field, and sometimes it's just a single the other way, like he did in Game 4. Guerrero is the embodiment of spraying all fields.
“It's a quality play every time,” third baseman. Ernie Clement said. “It doesn’t have to be a homer. He battles out there, sees pitches and just makes life difficult for opposing pitchers.”
“This postseason as a whole is just the most amazing baseball I've ever seen from him. And that's saying something because he hit about .400 in the second half of last year. This is the best version of him.”
“Helping my team win some games.”
Fresh off signing a massive $500 million contract that will keep him with the Blue Jays through the end of the 2039 season, many of Guerrero's teammates say there is added pressure on their superstar's shoulders to fulfill his commitments this month – but he continues to live up to expectations.
He is currently hitting .529 in the Divisional Series, .385 in the ALCS and is currently hitting .368 in the World Series. Guerrero was asked what impressed him most about his game after his Game 4 home run against Ohtani.
“That I’m helping my team win some games,” he replied through the team translator. “That’s what impresses me now.”
The aftermath of his performance echoed throughout the dressing room after his latest heroics in a month.
“He never agrees,” Popkins said. “He's really confident in who he is as a striker and what his core beliefs are based on how he was raised. In that sense he is special.”
“I would probably go around him.”
Another regular viewer of The Guerrero Show, Jay's striker. Eric Lauerhe was asked how he would apply to Guerrero. He paused before answering, shaking his head as he thought about it.
“I would probably beat him,” Lauer said with a laugh. “His bat trajectory is so smooth and long that I feel like he can get to anything.
“Whenever he comes up, we just say, ‘Hang the slider or the curveball. Hang something. Or throw a fastball up the middle and see how far it goes.”
“The cool thing about Valdi is that he’s not a run-or-bust hitter,” Hoffman added.
Even Guerrero could take a moment to appreciate his home run from the game's best player. It came one night after Ohtani stole the headlines by reaching a career-high nine times in Game 3. The Dodgers star was denied a second straight night of glory by the second-best player on the field. On Tuesday, it was Guerrero who stole the show, giving the underdog Jays a chance to upset the defending champions.
“It was very important for me to hit that home run and we moved forward from there,” Guerrero said. “And I know mostly myself and him [Ohtani]we're talked about on the show, but when we're between those two lines, we compete.
“It felt good that I was able to hit that homer on him.”
