Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr understated play gets lost in the shuffle

It wasn't that long ago where Vladimir Guerrero Jr's baserunning was a detriment to his game.

He would get picked off at second, try and stretch a single into a double or get caught trying to steal when he probably shouldn't have made the attempt in the first place.

Who can forget Vladdy getting picked off at second against the Twins during the 2023 playoffs. It was very costly and was a huge momentum swing.

I'm not sure if you noticed but in the last couple of years Guerrero hasn't been making baserunning mistakes because he knows his limitations by learning from his mistakes.

I've heard fans over the years say he is selfish, he only cares about himself, he's not as good as he thinks he is, he is not a team player...etc That's just an uneducated thought process.

To these fans if Vlad doesn't hit 40 plus home runs a season he's a bust. What they don't realize is that the homeruns are just a bonus, a byproduct of power not an indication of a good hitter.

Guererro Jr is a career .287 hitter which should tell you he only cares about getting hits and getting on base. Which indicates he puts his team first not his personal stats.

Last year the Blue Jays were dead last in the AL East, an absolutely awful effort from this club. Not Guerrero though he hit .323 for the year with 30 home runs and 103 RBI. Do you have any idea how hard it is to hit .323 with that kind of power in todays MLB? It's beyond comprehension.

Last night's game was the perfect example of Guerrero's selflessness. In the bottom of the 9th with the score tied at one and his buddy and former teammate Jordan Romano on the mound Guerrero could have swung for the fences to try and become the hero.

You wouldn't have been able to write a better ending but not Guerrero, he had his head in the game took some pitches, didn't swing at anything outside the zone and hit a hard single up the gut to get on base with one out.

I remember thinking to myself it's too bad that that Guerrero is at first base in this situation because without Realmuto behind the plate the Jays could steal second and get into scoring position.

Then BAM! To everyone's surprise (including John Schneider) Vladdy swiped second base for his first stolen base of the season.

Alejandro Kirk then singled bringing Guerrero home to win the game in walk off fashion.

Because Kirk walked it off against Jordan Romano, Guerrero's at bat and stolen base gets lost in the shuffle, but the fact is passing the torch and getting into scoring position was just as important in this win. .

Sportsnets Hazel Mae spoke to Guerrero post game on his thoughts on facing his friend and ex teammate Jordan Romano and why he decided to steal second base in that moment.

Guerrero's post game comments suggest not only is he a team player but his baseball IQ gets higher every season.

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