Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is still trying to wrap his head around the Dominican Republic's exit from the World Baseball Classic, which ended on a controversial strike call against the United States.
The Toronto Blue Jays' powerhouse believes the WBC should have embraced the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) system, set to debut in MLB's 2026 season. The tournament skipped the tech due to some international venues lacking the necessary setup.
Guerrero voiced his thoughts after returning to Blue Jays spring training, saying, "It's baseball. If we're using ABS in the regular season, why not at the WBC?"
He acknowledged the human element in umpiring, noting, "The umpire thought it was a strike, he's human. But everyone saw what really happened."
The game turned when Mason Miller struck out Geraldo Perdomo on a pitch far from the zone. With the tying run on third and Fernando Tatis Jr. poised to bat, the call dashed the Dominicans' hopes.
Guerrero shone in the tournament, going 8-for-18 with two homers and eight RBIs, following a stellar postseason that propelled the Blue Jays to the 2025 World Series.
Reflecting on his performance, Guerrero, 27, hinted at a promising season ahead. "In a way, yes," he said about his WBC showing being a precursor to the season.
"But it's so-so because spring training is still ahead, and there are things to improve. In a short tournament like the WBC, it's all about competing, not refining skills.
But yes, it will help me a bit."