Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had himself a postseason to remember. The 26-year-old first baseman powered the Toronto Blue Jays all the way to their first American League pennant in over three decades, cementing his status as one of the premier sluggers in the game.
His bat was electric, his presence undeniable, and his ALCS MVP nod was well-earned. But even with Guerrero’s heroics, the Blue Jays fell short in the World Series, running into a juggernaut in the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In a recent interview, Guerrero didn’t shy away from acknowledging the mountain his team was up against. “We knew we were up against the ‘dream team,’ and everyone had us as massive underdogs,” he said. “People were already calling it: swept 1-2-3-4, done!”
But what really turned heads were his comments about facing Shohei Ohtani. Guerrero was candid, saying the two-way superstar wasn’t quite the challenge he expected at the plate.
“Honestly? Shohei Ohtani wasn’t that tough to hit,” Guerrero said.
Instead, he gave credit where it was due: to Yoshinobu Yamamoto. “Yamamoto, though?
Yeah, that dude was nasty. Straight-up MVP!
I tip my cap. He was painting the corners low, dotting the knees, throwing strikes to everybody, and dominating.”
That’s high praise for Yamamoto, and it matches what we saw on the field. While Ohtani had his moments, it was Yamamoto who consistently kept Toronto hitters off balance.
Guerrero, for his part, backed up his words with production. He slashed an eye-popping .397/.494/.795 with a 1.289 OPS throughout the postseason and was a force in the World Series, going 10-for-30 with two home runs, three RBIs, and eight walks.
Still, Guerrero’s comments about Ohtani sparked plenty of reaction across the league-especially from fans. Social media lit up with responses, many quick to point out the irony of downplaying Ohtani after losing the series to him.
Some reminded Guerrero that he went 1-for-4 against Ohtani in the World Series, with a homer and two strikeouts. Others noted that while Guerrero was talking, Ohtani was collecting his second straight championship ring.
There were also fans who came to Ohtani’s defense, highlighting that he was pitching in the World Series after coming off elbow surgery-a significant hurdle for any pitcher, let alone one who’s also expected to produce at the plate. And produce he did: Ohtani went 9-for-27 in the series with three home runs, five RBIs, and nine walks. While his outings on the mound were less dominant-just 8.1 innings with seven earned runs-his overall impact on the series was undeniable.
The Blue Jays, for all the talk of being underdogs, didn’t roll over. They pushed the Dodgers and showed they belonged on that stage.
Guerrero’s comments, whether you agree with them or not, reflect the mindset of a player who believes in his team and isn’t afraid to speak his truth. He gave credit to the pitcher who gave him the most trouble and backed up his own play with big-time numbers.
As for the Dodgers, they lived up to the “dream team” label. Ohtani, Yamamoto, and the rest of that stacked roster delivered when it mattered most. But if Guerrero Jr.'s postseason breakout is any indication, the Blue Jays might not be underdogs for long.