Toronto Blue Jays Vladimir Guerrero Jr receives news concerning his offense
Photo credit: https://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb
The Toronto Blue Jays have one of the MLB's most prolific right-handed hitters in the top of the their lineup: First baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Vladdy has the potential to become an even bigger home run threat with just a minor tweak to his approach.
Blue Jays' All-Star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. receives news concerning his offense
Over the past four years, Guerrero Jr. has had at least 29 doubles and 26 home-runs each season.
A perennial All-Star, Guerrero Jr. is among the most consistent power hitters in the game, regularly driving the ball to all parts of the field for extra-bases.
According to Kenneth Teape of the Toronto Blue Jays On Si, Guerrero Jr.'s success at the plate stems from his emphasis on making powerful contact.
Very few players in baseball consistently hit the ball as hard and as often as he does. In 2021 Guerrero Jr hit .311 with 48 home runs and 111 rbi.
"How could Vladimir Guerrero Jr. become an annual 40-home run threat?" -Teape
Here's what David Adler from MLB.com had to say about that question:
«When Guerrero is going right, enough of those balls get into the air to produce 30-plus or 40-plus homer seasons. But those low attack angles also probably help explain why it's not 40-plus home runs every season, even though Vlad Jr. is always among the league leaders in hard-hit balls and is one of the few hitters who can rip the baseball upwards of 115 mph, even 120 mph." -Adler
Vlad Jr. aims to put the ball in play with authority, focusing on driving it past defenders with power. Don't anticipate any change in his approach anytime soon.
"I just try to hit the ball to the middle, and a line drive. I don't try to hit a ground ball or a fly ball. I just try to hit it hard, and a line drive...I think the key for me is hitting line drives. I tried that last year, hitting with launch angle, and all that. And I don't like it." -Guerrero Jr.
Becoming a consistent 40 plus home run hitter would definitely have its perks, but Guerrero Jr. is already a four-time, and counting, All-Star for good reason.
Why mess with what's working then?
| POLL | ||
MAI 23 | 179 ANSWERS Toronto Blue Jays Vladimir Guerrero Jr receives news concerning his offense Will Blue Jays' All-Star Guerrero Jr. ever reach or surpass the 48 homerun mark again? | ||
| yes | 71 | 39.7 % |
| no | 108 | 60.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
TRENDING NOW
