2025 World Series: Witnessing Vlad Jr.’s epic October

LOS ANGELES — It was a swing that could swing the World Series.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. received a hanging sweeper from all-world pitcher/hitter Shohei Ohtani in the third inning of Game 4 of the World Series — and blasted it into the night sky just moments after the Los Angeles Dodgers took a 1-0 lead.

It was a critical turning point for the Blue Jays just hours after losing a heartbreaking 18 inning game, putting Toronto behind in the series for the first time – and Guerrero’s homer gave the Jays a lead in Game 4 that they would never relinquish.

It was the latest in an October full of big moments produced by the face of his franchise, and the fact that he ran into the Dodgers’ two-way phenom adds to an evolving storyline: Ohtani isn’t the only superstar in this World Series.

“That swing was huge,” manager John Schneider said after the win that evened the series at two games apiece. “A sweeper is a pitch designed to generate popups…and the swing Vlad used was elite. After last night [Game 3] and kind of all the recognition that’s been given to Shohei individually and he’s on the mound today, it’s a huge swing on Vlad’s part. This is a huge change to get us started. I think it gives [us] a certain momentum. »

Guerrero gave the Blue Jays momentum all month, hitting .419 with seven home runs in the postseason. But don’t just call him a free-swinging hitter. While that description may fit his famous father, the younger Guerrero is much more — and his teammates have noticed it throughout the playoffs.

“Have some popcorn and watch him do his thing.”

Max Scherzer is a future Hall of Famer who will go to the World Series for a fourth different franchise, and even the 41-year-old right-hander is impressed with what he’s seen from Guerrero every night.

“It’s just locked and loaded,” Scherzer said. “He’s such a force. To me, his greatness goes beyond his offense. It’s also about his defense and his base running. He’s a great player in every way.”

But nothing else Guerrero has done this season compares to the show he put on with bat in hand. Even his hitting coach, David Popkins, often finds himself looking at his star like a fan would.

“It’s more about enjoying the show, having some popcorn and watching him do his thing,” Popkins said with a laugh. “He’s ahead of every adjustment before we can reach him. I learn from him every day.

“And when these things click, it’s like Donkey Kong.”

It’s a common theme among those who play with him in October.

Closer Jeff Hoffman said he was “on the edge of his seat” every night, waiting for Guerrero to do something special. Sometimes it comes with a big home run to left field and other times it’s just pulling the ball the other way for a single, as he also did in Game 4. Guerrero is the epitome of all-field pulverization.

“It’s a quality hit every time,” third baseman Ernie Clement said. “It doesn’t have to be a home run. He fights up there, sees pitches and makes it really, really difficult for opposing pitchers.

“This whole postseason is just the most incredible baseball I’ve ever seen from him. And that’s saying something because he hit about .400 in the second half last year. This is the best version of him.”

“Help my team win some games”

On the heels of signing a massive $500 million contract that will keep him with the Blue Jays through the 2039 season, many of Guerrero’s teammates are pointing out the added pressure on their superstar’s shoulders to deliver on his promises this month — but he continues to live up to expectations.

He hit .529 in the Division Series, .385 in the ALCS and is hitting .368 in the World Series so far. Guerrero was asked what impressed him most about his own game after his Game 4 home run against Ohtani.

“I’m helping my team win some games,” he responded through the team interpreter. “That’s what impresses me right now.”

The effects of his play reverberated throughout the locker room after a month of heroics.

“It never settles,” Popkins said. “He’s really grounded in who he is as a hitter and what his core beliefs are based on how he was raised. He’s special in that way.”

“I’d probably be around him.”

Another regular viewer of “The Guerrero Show,” Jays reliever Eric Lauer, was asked how he would pitch to Guerrero. He paused before answering, shaking his head as he thought about it.

“I would probably go around it,” Lauer said with a laugh. “His bat path is so smooth and long that I feel like he can do anything.

“Every time he comes in, we’re just like, ‘Hook a slider or a curveball. Hook something. Or throw a fastball up the middle and see how far it goes.'”

“The cool thing about Valddy is he’s not the type to hit a home run or blow up,” Hoffman added.

Even Guerrero might take a moment to appreciate his home run against the best player in the game. This came a night after Ohtani made headlines, hitting a game-high nine times in Game 3. The Dodgers star was denied a second straight night of glory, thanks to the second-best player on the field. On Tuesday, it was Guerrero who stole the show, giving his underdog Jays a chance to upset the defending champions.

“It was very important for me to achieve this circuit, and from that moment we started,” Guerrero said. “And I basically know me and him [Ohtani]we talk about the series, but when we are between these two lines, we are in competition.

“It was good to be able to hit that home run against him.”