Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Crowned ALCS MVP, Has Sights Set On World Series

Prior to the start of the season, it was unclear whether Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. would continue playing at Rogers Centre after the 2025 campaign.

That changed in April, when the 26-year-old signed a 14-year, $500 million contract extension and tied him to the franchise for the long term.

Six months later, the gamble seemed to pay off for the Blue Jays.

After recording zero hits and runs in the first two losses against the Seattle Mariners in the ALCS, Guerrero Jr. led Toronto to four victories from five to send the team to the World Series for the first time since 1993. The first baseman hit three home runs in the series in addition to racking up 10 hits and scoring six runs.

Guerrero Jr. was named ALCS MVP after a 4-3 win in Game 7 on Monday.

“We do this for you guys,” he said after the game to the fans. “The job’s not finished. We’ve got four more to go.”

The Blue Jays star signed for the team 10 years ago and made his MLB debut in 2019. Since then, he’s been an All-Star five times, won the 2022 Gold Glove and led the league in home runs during the 2021 regular season.

“I grew up in the Dominican [Republic], but the moment that I signed here – that I knew I was going to be here my entire career – I knew I had to somehow make all the fans, the entire country, proud of me,” Guerrero Jr. said in his Game 7 postgame interview.

The Canadian side will open the championship series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night. For Guerrero Jr, he now has his sights set on making more history with the Blue Jays.

“Like I always say: my challenge is to bring the World Series here back to Canada.”