'We can stop talking about it': Guerrero Jr. sheds massive weight from shoulders
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a significant home run during a game against the Baltimore Orioles, ending a period of personal and professional pressure. The moment was celebrated by fans and teammates at the Rogers Centre.
Why it matters
This event serves as a turning point for a high-profile athlete struggling with performance expectations in a major professional sports market.
TORONTO — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had heard the boos from the home crowd this season, specifically during the first few games of this weekend's series at Rogers Centre.
He’d tell himself it’s simply part of the game and if he needed further reassurance, Guerrero Jr. would recall something his father once told him:
Guerrero Jr. offered that window into his thinking on Sunday afternoon following an 8-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles and a long-overdue celebration in Toronto. It took almost an entire season and nearly a calendar year, but the first baseman finally removed a massive weight from his shoulders and gave Blue Jays fans what they’d been craving.
“We can stop talking about it,” said Blue Jays manager John Schneider with a grin.
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