Vladimir Guerrero Jr. facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Vladimir Guerrero, Jr.
Guerrero with the Blue Jays in 2024
Toronto Blue Jays – No. 27
First baseman
Born: (1999-03-16) March 16, 1999 (age 26) Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Bats: Right Throws: Right
debut
April 26, 2019, for the Toronto Blue Jays
MLB statistics (through July 27, 2025)
Batting average	.288
Hits	1,019
Home runs	174
Runs batted in	561
Teams
Toronto Blue Jays (2019–present)
Career highlights and awards
5× All-Star (2021–2025) 2× All-MLB First Team (2021, 2024) Gold Glove Award (2022) 2× Silver Slugger Award (2021, 2024) AL Hank Aaron Award (2021) MLB home run leader (2021)

Vladimir Guerrero Ramos Jr. (born March 16, 1999) is a professional baseball player. He plays as a first baseman for the Toronto Blue Jays in Major League Baseball (MLB). He is from both the Dominican Republic and Canada.

Vladimir Jr. made his big league debut in 2019. He bats and throws with his right hand. His father, Vladimir Guerrero Sr., is a famous baseball player too. He is in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Vladimir Jr. was born in Montreal, Canada. The Blue Jays signed him in 2015. This was when he was an international free agent. In 2018, he was named the best minor league player. He hit .381 with 20 home runs and 78 runs batted in (RBI).

In 2021, he led all major league players in home runs (48). He also led in runs scored (123) and total bases (363). He was chosen for his first All-Star Game in 2021. He won the MVP award in that game. He was the youngest player ever to win this award. Since 2021, he has been an All-Star five times. He has also won two Silver Slugger Awards and one Gold Glove Award.

Early Life and Family

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is the son of Baseball Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero. His uncle, Wilton Guerrero, also played in MLB. Vladimir Jr. was born in Montreal, Canada. His father was playing for the Montreal Expos at the time. This makes Vladimir Jr. a Canadian citizen.

His mother, Riquelma Ramos, learned French in Montreal. She later moved with him to the Dominican Republic. He spent most of his childhood there. Vladimir Jr. split his time between his mother in Santiago and his uncle Wilton in Don Gregorio. He also spent summers with his father in the United States.

In 2003, his father played his last game for the Expos. Four-year-old Vladimir Jr. joined his dad on the field. He wore an Expos uniform. His father told him to wave to the crowd. This moment became a famous photo.

Vladimir Jr.'s uncle, Wilton, taught him how to play baseball. Vladimir Jr. said, "I think everything I've learned in baseball has been from him. I've been practicing with him since I was five. He's the one who taught me to practice well."

Becoming a Professional Player

Starting in the Minor Leagues

In 2015, baseball experts thought Vladimir Jr. was a top young player. He signed with the Toronto Blue Jays on July 2, 2015. He was 16 years old and received $3.9 million. He started playing professional baseball with the Rookie Advanced Bluefield Blue Jays on June 23, 2016.

He hit his first professional home run on June 24. Later, he hit two home runs in one game on August 12. He was named an All-Star at third base for the Appalachian League. In 2016, he played 62 games. He hit .271 with eight home runs and 46 runs batted in (RBI). He also stole 15 bases.

Guerrero with the Lansing Lugnuts in 2017

In 2017, Vladimir Jr. played for the Class-A Lansing Lugnuts. He hit his first home run of the season on April 7. He was chosen as a Midwest League All-Star. He was also named to the World team for the 2017 All-Star Futures Game. After the Futures Game, he moved up to the Advanced-A Dunedin Blue Jays.

He helped Dunedin win a playoff spot by hitting a home run on August 31. He finished 2017 with a .323 batting average. He had 13 home runs and 76 RBI in 119 games. He also walked more times than he struck out. He was named ESPN's Prospect of the Year.

Guerrero with the Buffalo Bisons in 2018

In 2018, Vladimir Jr. was seen as the top young player for the Blue Jays. He started the season with the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats. He led the league with a .398 batting average and 30 RBI in his first month. In May, he hit .438 with nine home runs.

He had a leg injury in June and was out for a few weeks. On July 28, he was moved up to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. This happened after his father was inducted into the Hall of Fame. He hit .402 with 14 home runs and 60 RBI in 61 games with New Hampshire.

Joining the Toronto Blue Jays

2019: Rookie Season and Home Run Derby Star

On April 24, 2019, the Blue Jays announced Vladimir Jr. would join the main team. He was the top young player in baseball at the time. He was hitting very well in Triple-A. He made his MLB debut on April 26. He got his first hit, a double, in the ninth inning.

On May 14, he hit his first major league home run. He was 20 years and 59 days old. This made him the youngest Blue Jay to hit a home run. He hit another home run in the same game. He hit two more home runs in the next series. His four home runs earned him the American League Player of the Week award. He was the youngest Blue Jay to win it.

Guerrero batting in 2020

On May 31, he hit his sixth home run of the season. This home run helped set a new MLB record for most home runs in a single month. In July, he broke the single-round home run record in the Home Run Derby. He hit 40 home runs in one round. He also hit 91 home runs in total during the derby. He lost in the final round to Pete Alonso. In 2019, Vladimir Jr. hit .272 with 15 home runs and 69 RBI.

2020: Shortened Season

The 2020 baseball season started late because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said Vladimir Jr. would mostly play first base. He would also play third base and designated hitter sometimes. Vladimir Jr. played in all 60 games of the shortened season. He hit .262 with nine home runs and 33 RBIs.

In his first time playing in the playoffs, he got one hit in seven tries. The Blue Jays lost both games to the Tampa Bay Rays.

2021: MVP-Caliber Season

Guerrero fielding in 2021

Vladimir Jr. started the 2021 season much lighter. He had lost 42 pounds since July 2020. He felt "quicker, stronger and more resilient." He became the Blue Jays' main first baseman. He also played as a designated hitter.

On April 27, 2021, he hit three home runs in one game. One of them was a grand slam. He also had 7 RBI that day. On June 26, he hit his 50th career home run. He reached this milestone in the same number of games as his father.

On July 1, Vladimir Jr. was named the starting first baseman for the American League in the All-Star Game. In the game, he hit the 200th home run in All-Star Game history. He became part of the third father-son duo to hit home runs in All-Star Games. He was also named the game's Most Valuable Player. He was the first Blue Jays player to win this award. He was also the youngest All-Star Game MVP at 22 years old.

On September 6, he hit his 40th home run of the season. This made him and his father the second father-son duo in MLB history to each have a 40-home run season. Vladimir Jr. finished the 2021 season hitting .311. He tied for the major league lead in home runs with 48. He also led in runs scored (123) and total bases (363). He won the American League Hank Aaron Award. He finished second in the American League MVP voting.

2022: Gold Glove Winner

On March 22, 2022, Vladimir Jr. signed a $7.9 million contract with the Blue Jays. On April 13, he hit a home run against the New York Yankees. He then had his hand stepped on at first base. Despite the injury, he stayed in the game. He hit two more home runs, finishing with three for the day. He was the first player ever to hit three home runs in one game and then strike out four times in the next game.

Later that season, he was again named to start the All-Star Game at first base. On September 14, he hit his 100th career home run. He became the youngest Blue Jay to reach 100 home runs. He was also the 7th youngest player in MLB history with 100 home runs and 100 doubles.

In 2022, he hit .274 with 32 home runs and 97 RBIs. He won a Gold Glove Award for his excellent defense at first base.

2023: Home Run Derby Champion

On July 10, 2023, Vladimir Jr. won the MLB Home Run Derby. He hit 25 home runs in the final round. He beat Randy Arozarena. He and his father became the first father-son duo to win the Derby. His father won it in 2007.

Vladimir Jr. finished the 2023 season hitting .264 with 26 home runs and 94 RBI. The Blue Jays lost in the playoffs again.

2024: Continued Success

Vladimir Jr.'s salary for the 2024 season was $19.9 million. This was a record amount set by the salary arbitration process. He finished the 2024 season hitting .323 with 30 home runs and 103 RBI.

2025: Big Contract Extension

On January 9, 2025, Vladimir Jr. and the Blue Jays agreed to a $28.5 million salary. This was one of the highest salaries for a player in his situation. On April 9, 2025, he signed a huge 14-year, $500 million contract extension with the Blue Jays.

On July 11, 2025, he got his 1,000th career hit. He became the 10th and youngest player to reach this milestone as a Blue Jay.

Scouting Report: What Makes Him Great

Baseball experts saw Vladimir Jr. as a top player because of his amazing hitting. They often gave his hitting the highest possible grade. His power was also rated very highly. At first, scouts were not sure if he could play third base well in the major leagues. But he has shown he can become a good defender.

Personal Life

Vladimir Jr. speaks English with his teammates and team staff. But he often gives interviews in Spanish. He uses the team's interpreter. In 2019, he said he was trying to learn English quickly.

He has several siblings. His paternal grandmother, Altagracia, has helped care for him. His brother, Pablo, signed with the Texas Rangers in 2023. His half-brother, Vladi Miguel Guerrero, signed with the New York Mets in 2024. His cousin Gabriel Guerrero also plays professional baseball. His godfather is Pedro Martinez, who played with his father. Vladimir Jr. is a Christian.

On January 30, 2024, Vladimir Jr. was featured on the cover of the video game MLB The Show 24. His father was on the cover of MLB 2006. This made them the first father-son duo to be on the cover of an MLB video game.

See also

In Spanish: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. para niños