The $500m slugger who helped Canada get to the World Series

BBC:

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr wants fans to have no doubt: He was “born ready”.

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

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

His son, who was born in Montreal, is now vowing to bring the championship ring home and give it to his father.

“My personal goal is to win a World Series and give the ring to my dad,” the younger Guerrero said in an interview with Tom Verducci of Fox Sports and Sports Illustrated.

Guerrero has played a massive role in Toronto’s postseason success, and was crowned Most Valuable Player in the division series leading up to the championship.

Now, the Toronto Blue Jays are facing the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday, in what promises to be a storybook match-up between the defending champions and the underdogs.

Both teams are anchored by two of the most exciting talents in modern baseball. For Los Angeles, that’s Shohei Ohtani, the Japanese superstar whose record-breaking $700m deal made headlines around the world, and who is hailed for being elite both as a pitcher and a hitter.

For Toronto, it’s Guerrero Jr – affectionately nicknamed Vladdy Jr among fans – who made his own headlines earlier this year in April after signing the astonishing 14-year, multi-million deal with Toronto.

That deal was newsworthy not only for its size, but also for what it symbolised. Guerrero Jr, whose baseball career was closely-watched since he was a three-year-old warming up with his father and the Expos, effectively committed the rest of his playing life to Canada’s sole MLB team.