The Yankees can’t seem to keep Vladimir Guerrero Jr. quiet in the Bronx. On Friday night, Guerrero Jr. launched another home run at Yankee Stadium, continuing his dominance against the Yankees and adding even more frustration for fans in the Bronx. Guerrero Jr. now has 15 career home runs at Yankee Stadium, tying him for fifth-most by a visiting player at the current ballpark.
As of this publication, the Yankees were tied 1-1 with the Blue Jays in a game where Guerrero Jr. once again made his presence felt.
Guerrero Jr. vs. Yankees
Before the matchup, Guerrero Jr. reflected on why playing at Yankee Stadium seems to bring out his best — and it didn’t exactly offer Yankees fans much comfort.
“I grew up coming in here, watching my dad playing here,” Guerrero Jr. said. “And to me, it’s like when I come here, I feel like we’re in the Dominican. There’s a lot of Dominican people here. I just like playing here.”
It’s no secret Yankees fans have a complicated history with Guerrero Jr. Back in 2022, he infamously declared he would never sign with the Yankees, “not even dead,” a comment that turned him into one of the Bronx’s top villains whenever Toronto comes to town. Even though Guerrero Jr. softened his stance in offseason comments, the energy from Yankees fans every time he steps up to the plate hasn’t changed.
Now locked into a 14-year, $500 million extension with the Blue Jays, Guerrero Jr. will be a thorn in the Yankees’ side for years to come.
“I feel good,” Guerrero Jr. said about the new contract. “I thank God first. I always believe in myself and I always believe in God. When you sign that contract, you feel relieved. It made me feel happy.”
Instead of flashy purchases, Guerrero Jr. said he plans to use part of his new deal to renovate his mother’s home — a small personal note that Yankees fans probably won’t dwell on long, especially as he continues to swing freely and pile up numbers at Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees will have their work cut out for them if they want to slow down Guerrero Jr. this series — and beyond.
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