The $500m slugger who is taking Canada to the World Series

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. wants fans to be in no doubt that he was “born ready.”

The Canadian-born, Dominican Republic-raised slugger, who just signed a $500 million (£374 million) contract – the third-highest in Major League Baseball (MLB) history – is widely seen as the team's best player and a key reason Toronto is finally heading to the World Series for the first time in 32 years.

In many ways, his life had been leading up to this moment. His father, Baseball Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero Sr., spent most of his career playing for the now-defunct Montreal Expos, but a World Series title always eluded him.

His Montreal-born son has now vowed to bring the championship ring home and pass it on to his father.

“My personal goal is to win the World Series and give a ring to my dad,” Guerrero Jr. told Tom Verducci of Fox Sports and Sports Illustrated.

Guerrero played a huge role in Toronto's postseason success and was named MVP in the division series leading up to the championship.

The Toronto Blue Jays now face the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday in what promises to be a fairytale matchup between the defending champions and the underdogs.

Both teams feature two of the brightest talents in baseball today. For Los Angeles, it's Shohei Ohtani, the Japanese superstar whose record $700 million deal made headlines around the world and who has been described as an elite pitcher and hitter alike.

As for Toronto, it's Guerrero Jr., affectionately nicknamed Vladdy Jr. by fans, who made headlines earlier this year in April after signing a stunning 14-year, multi-million dollar contract with Toronto.

This deal was noteworthy not only because of its size, but also because of what it symbolized. Guerrero Jr., whose baseball career had been closely followed since he warmed up with his father and in exhibitions as a three-year-old, essentially devoted the rest of his playing life to Canada's only MLB team.

At the time, Guerrero Jr. said he was “blessed to carry my father's legacy and represent the entire country” and vowed to bring the World Series championship back to Canada.

Until April, this promise seemed unlikely. The Blue Jays finished the 2024 season at the bottom of their division, and the start of this year was tinged with uncertainty over whether Toronto had what it took – financially and culturally – to retain a superstar like Guerrero Jr.

“Toronto is notorious for not signing big free agents because they don't want to play here,” preferring more lucrative hubs like New York or Los Angeles, said Liz McGuire, a longtime Blue Jays fan who hosts a podcast called Jay Bird Watching.

The Canadian city had already been burned. In 2017, fan favorite Jose Bautista was lured by the promise of big money.

In 2023, Toronto was furious over rumors that Ohtani was going to sign with the Blue Jays. Fans obsessively followed the private jet flying from Orange County to Toronto in hopes of seeing it arrive in the city.

But when the plane's doors opened, Canadian businessman and TV presenter Robert Herjavec stepped out instead. The next day, Ohtani announced that he had signed a 10-year contract with the Dodgers in sunny Los Angeles. Hearts froze throughout Toronto.

But the Blue Jays still had Guerrero Jr., who had been with them since he was 16 years old.

“He used to hit dingers as a kid,” Ms. McGuire recalled, using the slang term for hitting a home run. When she learned the team had signed him to a 14-year contract, she celebrated by spending $2,500 on a game bat signed by him.

Guerrero Jr. earned his eye-watering salary not only on the field, but also because he was “incredibly likable,” said Rob Silver, an Expos fan turned Blue Jays fan who lives in Ottawa and hosts a baseball podcast called Launch Angle.

“The fact that he's a big kid who happens to be this otherworldly superstar and future Hall of Famer and he chose us, that's it.”

Fans are quick to point out Guerrero Jr.'s athletic prowess and dedication to Toronto both on and off the diamond. During Game 5 against the Seattle Mariners, he rushed onto the field to help his teammate, outfielder George Springer, crawl to the bench after being hit in the kneecap by a pitch. Springer hit the game-winning three-run home run in the seventh.

Off the field, Guerrero Jr. appears humble. He lives with his grandmother and has even incorporated her traditional Dominican dishes into his trainer's diet. In recent years, the native Spanish speaker has begun doing more interviews in English to connect with Canadian fans.

And, in what may be the biggest sign of his total love for the city, Guerrero Jr. donned an Auston Matthews Toronto Maple Leafs jersey before Game 7 against Seattle – ignoring any warnings about the supposed curses (the hockey team famously failed to make it to the Stanley Cup year after year).

It was a cheeky nod to Canada's most popular sport. Although baseball, known colloquially as “America's pastime,” does not occupy the same place in Canadian national identity as hockey, the Jays' victory was a unifying moment for the entire country.

In Toronto, hundreds of people filled the streets, climbing poles, playing bagpipes and waving Canadian flags in an impromptu performance of the national anthem. In Calgary, a hockey game was briefly interrupted to announce the Blue Jays' victory. In New Brunswick, a local church put up a sign that read, “Thank God for Your love and for George Springer!”

The Blue Jays are also getting support from the Americans. Cole Greenhouse, a U.S. Navy lieutenant commander originally from Missouri, said he usually roots for the St. Louis Cardinals. However, he is supporting Toronto in this World Series.

He remembers his first baseball cap at age 11 was a Blue Jays cap. On Tuesday, he wore a similar cap “so everyone could see” his support.

Nicole Perry, a Chicago Cubs fan who lives in Phoenix, Arizona, said she, too, supports the Blue Jays. Ms. Perry said she and other baseball fans are tired of the Dodgers' seemingly unlimited budget and “super team” and that it's encouraging to see how passionate Canada has become about the sport they love.

The victory was also felt in Guerrero Jr.'s hometown of Don Gregorio in the Dominican Republic, where videos of fans celebrating the team circulated online.

Many people agree that the Los Angeles Dodgers are a tough team to beat. But many fans still believe the Blue Jays can win it all. “The nature of baseball is unlike any other sport,” Mr. Silver noted. “Truly, any team can win.”

After Monday's win over Seattle, cameras caught Guerrero Jr. fighting back tears. The Internet was soon flooded with the image, coupled with photos of him as a boy standing next to his father in a Montreal Expos uniform—an emotional snapshot of a journey years in the making.

“This guy is going to the World Series.”