Scouting grades: Hit: 80 | Power: 70 | Run: 45 | Arm: 60 | Field: 45 | Overall: 70
The Blue Jays knew they were getting a special talent when they signed Vlad Jr. -- the son of 2004 AL MVP and Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero -- for $3.9 million in July 2015, after he had ranked as the top international prospect in his class. In the three-plus years since, he's cemented himself as the best hitter in the Minor Leagues by consistently torching advanced pitching as a younger player at every level. That was especially true last season, when Guerrero batted .402 and .336 at Double- and Triple-A, respectively, to finish his age-19 campaign with an MiLB-best .381 average. He also led the Minors in slugging (.636) and OPS (1.073), finishing the season on the cusp on the Majors before a turn in the Arizona Fall League.
Guerrero is an elite, generational-type hitter who stands out as much for his physical tools at the plate as his approach and capacity for making adjustments. His swing is both explosive and efficient, a combination of electric bat speed, physical strength and off-the-charts barrel control, and it makes him adept at crushing both heaters and secondary pitches to all parts of the field. He has 80-grade raw power and hit a career-high 20 home runs in 2018, but it's widely agreed that Guerrero is merely scraping the surface of his power ceiling. His pitch recognition and feel for the strike zone belie his age and experience, as he absolutely punishes mistakes, seldom expands his zone and rarely strikes out.
Whether Guerrero can stick as a third baseman is still a burning question. The Blue Jays were pleased with the gains he made there in 2018, noting that he improved his athleticism and overall footwork at the position and showed more arm strength than he did in previous years. It makes him a passable defender at the hot corner for now, but his below-average speed, thick build and modest range portend a move to first base in the future. Regardless of where he ends up on the field, Guerrero is set to become one of baseball's premier hitters, with the ceiling of a perennial MVP candidate. Statcast - Batting Season Pitches Batted Balls Barrels Barrel % Exit Velocity Launch Angle XBA XSLG WOBA XWOBA XWOBACON Hard Hit % K % BB % 2019 1986 375 29 7.7 89.4 6.7 .263 .437 .329 .330 .363 38.4 17.7 8.9 ALL 1986 375 29 7.7 89.4 6.7 .263 .437 .329 .330 .363 38.4 17.7 8.9 MLB 40553 6.3 87.5 11.2 .251 .412 .317 .318 .371 34.5 21.7 8.3 Transactions Team Date Transaction 04/26/2019 Toronto Blue Jays selected the contract of 3B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. from Buffalo Bisons. 04/11/2019 3B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. assigned to Buffalo Bisons from Dunedin Blue Jays. 04/04/2019 3B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. assigned to Dunedin Blue Jays from Buffalo Bisons. 01/28/2019 Toronto Blue Jays invited non-roster 3B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to spring training. 07/31/2018 3B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. assigned to Buffalo Bisons from New Hampshire Fisher Cats. 07/28/2018 New Hampshire Fisher Cats placed 3B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on the temporarily inactive list. 07/19/2018 3B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. assigned to New Hampshire Fisher Cats from Dunedin Blue Jays. 07/17/2018 3B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. assigned to Dunedin Blue Jays from New Hampshire Fisher Cats. 07/13/2018 New Hampshire Fisher Cats sent 3B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on a rehab assignment to GCL Blue Jays. 06/07/2018 New Hampshire Fisher Cats placed 3B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on the 7-day disabled list. 04/03/2018 3B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. assigned to New Hampshire Fisher Cats from Dunedin Blue Jays. 03/08/2018 3B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. assigned to Toronto Blue Jays. 10/14/2017 3B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. assigned to Leones del Escogido. 07/10/2017 3B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. assigned to Dunedin Blue Jays from Lansing Lugnuts. 07/07/2017 Lansing Lugnuts placed 3B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on the temporarily inactive list. 04/03/2017 3B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. assigned to Lansing Lugnuts from Bluefield Blue Jays. 03/25/2017 3B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. assigned to Toronto Blue Jays. 06/23/2016 3B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. assigned to Bluefield Blue Jays. 07/02/2015 Toronto Blue Jays signed free agent OF Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to a minor league contract.
