Fans Upset After Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Announcement on Friday
Fans Upset After Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Announcement on Friday originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Toronto Blue Jays superstar played a big role in his team's 9-0 win over the Boston Red Sox on Friday night, as he so often does. The 26-year-old went 2-for-4 with a walk and three runs scored before backup Alan Roden pinch-hit for him in the ninth inning.
Advertisement
Guerrero left Thursday's 6-0 win over the Cleveland Guardians early after getting hit in the forearm by a pitch. The four-time All-Star was originally out of Friday's lineup before becoming a late addition just before the first pitch.
Guerrero then made a controversial announcement after the win, via MLB International's Hazel Mae.
Toronto Blue Jays first base Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27)© Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
The slugger said that he will not participate in this year's Home Run Derby, and there's no chance he'll change his mind.
'That's (Ronald) Acuna's show,' he said when asked why not. However, he did claim that he's a "lock" when Toronto hosts an All-Star game.
Fans made fun of Guerrero on social media after the announcement.
Advertisement
"Probably because he forgot how to hit home runs," one said.
"Yeah bc he only will hit 1," another said.
"Good..he only hit a couple home runs this year," another said.
"Washed so makes sense," another said.
"Because he [expletive] [stinks] that's why," another said.
Guerrero has 11 homers over 80 games this season, which is tied for 64th in baseball.
Guerrero won the 2023 derby, defeating Randy Arozarena 25-23 in the final round. He and Vladimir Guerrero Sr. are the first father-son duo to both win one, as the elder Guerrero won it in 2007.
The younger Guerrero also set a record for the most homers in a single round with 40 against Joc Pederson in the 2019.
Advertisement
Meanwhile, Acuña will participate in his third-ever derby this year, which will be on July 14 at the Atlanta Braves' Trust Park. The 2023 NL MVP, who went down with an ACL injury last season, will try to become the first-ever Braves player to win the competition.
Seattle Mariners catcher and current MLB home run leader Cal Raleigh will also participate.
Related: Blue Jays Announce Vladimir Guerrero Jr. News After Absence From Lineup
Related: Blue Jays Make Final Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Decision Before Red Sox Game
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
10 minutes ago
- CBS News
Trout hits tying homer and Newman adds 3-run shot in 7th as Angels beat Nationals
Mike Trout hit a tying homer that sparked a six-run seventh inning, Kevin Newman added a three-run shot and the Los Angeles Angels rolled to an 8-2 victory over the Washington Nationals on Saturday night. Kyle Hendricks gave up one run in five innings and rookie Christian Moore delivered the go-ahead single with two outs in the seventh. Gustavo Campero also homered for the Angels. CJ Abrams went deep for the Nationals, and Michael Soroka pitched six innings of two-hit ball. Washington took a 2-1 lead in the seventh on Riley Adams' RBI single off Ryan Zeferjahn (5-1). Trout connected against Zach Brzykcy (0-1) leading off the bottom half for his 13th home run. Los Angeles then sent 11 more batters to the plate in the inning, with Taylor Ward (double), Jo Adell (single) and Moore contributing important hits. Newman, batting ninth, launched his first homer this season off Eduardo Salazar for a 6-2 lead. Luis Rengifo's double and Ward's bases-loaded walk made it 7-2. Campero homered in the eighth. The Angels took a 1-0 lead in the second when Ward was hit by a pitch and scored on Logan O'Hoppe's double-play grounder. The Nationals tied it in the fifth on Abrams' 12th homer. Soroka struck out five and walked one in a no-decision. Key moment Salazar struck out O'Hoppe and got Zach Neto to pop out with runners on first and third in the seventh and was one strike from escaping the jam when Moore hammered a 1-2 fastball above the zone for an RBI single and a 3-2 Angels lead. Key stat Soroka entered with a 3.49 ERA through five innings and a 22.85 ERA in the sixth. But after giving up Newman's leadoff single in the sixth, the right-hander started a 1-6-3 double play on Rengifo's grounder and got Nolan Schanuel to pop out to preserve a 1-all tie. Up next Nationals left-hander Mitchell Parker (5-8, 4.59 ERA) opposes Angels right-hander Jack Kochanowicz (3-8, 5.49) in Sunday's series finale.
Associated Press
22 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Trout hits tying homer and Newman adds 3-run shot in 7th as Angels beat Nationals
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Mike Trout hit a tying homer that sparked a six-run seventh inning, Kevin Newman added a three-run shot and the Los Angeles Angels rolled to an 8-2 victory over the Washington Nationals on Saturday night. Kyle Hendricks gave up one run in five innings and rookie Christian Moore delivered the go-ahead single with two outs in the seventh. Gustavo Campero also homered for the Angels. CJ Abrams went deep for the Nationals, and Michael Soroka pitched six innings of two-hit ball. Washington took a 2-1 lead in the seventh on Riley Adams' RBI single off Ryan Zeferjahn (5-1). Trout connected against Zach Brzykcy (0-1) leading off the bottom half for his 13th home run. Los Angeles then sent 11 more batters to the plate in the inning, with Taylor Ward (double), Jo Adell (single) and Moore contributing important hits. Newman, batting ninth, launched his first homer this season off Eduardo Salazar for a 6-2 lead. Luis Rengifo's double and Ward's bases-loaded walk made it 7-2. Campero homered in the eighth. The Angels took a 1-0 lead in the second when Ward was hit by a pitch and scored on Logan O'Hoppe's double-play grounder. The Nationals tied it in the fifth on Abrams' 12th homer. Soroka struck out five and walked one in a no-decision. Key moment Salazar struck out O'Hoppe and got Zach Neto to pop out with runners on first and third in the seventh and was one strike from escaping the jam when Moore hammered a 1-2 fastball above the zone for an RBI single and a 3-2 Angels lead. Key stat Soroka entered with a 3.49 ERA through five innings and a 22.85 ERA in the sixth. But after giving up Newman's leadoff single in the sixth, the right-hander started a 1-6-3 double play on Rengifo's grounder and got Nolan Schanuel to pop out to preserve a 1-all tie. Up next Nationals left-hander Mitchell Parker (5-8, 4.59 ERA) opposes Angels right-hander Jack Kochanowicz (3-8, 5.49) in Sunday's series finale. ___ AP MLB:
28 minutes ago
Toronto takes down the Timbers 3-0 for rare home win
TORONTO -- Alonso Coello and Tyrese Spicer each scored to help injury-depleted Toronto beat the Portland Timbers 3-0 on Saturday night. Toronto (4-10-5) snapped a five-game winless run (0-4-1) at home. Before Saturday, it had collected just five of a possible 33 points at home (1-7-3). Portland (8-5-6) entered having lost just one of its last seven outings (3-1-3). Coello scored on a free kick in the 11th minute when he fired the ball past the Portland wall and Canadian goalkeeper James Pantemis for his second MLS goal. Spicer made it 2-0 in the 56th. Pantemis made a lunging one-handed save to stop Kosi Thompson's header but the ball went back to Spicer, who sent it home for his second of the season. Toronto added an insurance goal in stoppage time, with Derrick Etienne Jr.'s cross bouncing in off Portland defender Ian Smith with TFC forward Deandre Kerr nearby. Sean Johnson posted his fifth clean sheet of the season after Portland attempted just four shots, none on target. Only five of TFC's remaining 15 games are at home.
