Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. named as All-Star starter

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has had a great season in 2025, slashing .278/.380/.447 with 12 home runs in 368 plate appearances for a 135 wRC+ entering Wednesday’s game. It wasn’t even a particularly close race, as Paul Goldschmidt had fewer home runs and wRC+.

Guerrero Jr. has attended every All-Star Game since he made the big leagues. In 2019, he didn’t make the All-Star game, but participated in the Home Run Derby, where he hit a record 92 home runs, finishing as the runner-up. There was no All-Star Game in 2020 due to the pandemic.

Guerrero Jr.’s best season was in 2021, when he hit a career-high and league-high 48 home runs, easily earning his first All-Star nomination. His 2022 season was similar to what he’s doing this year, finishing the season slashing .274/.339/.480 with 32 home runs and a 132 wRC+.

The first baseman’s 2023 season was one of the worst in his career, but he made the All-Star Game as a reserve. Moreover, he won the Home Run Derby that season. And then last season, Guerrero Jr. slashed .323/.396/.544 with 30 home runs in 697 plate appearances for a 164 wRC+, which easily deserved an All-Star start spot.

Unfortunately, Alejandro Kirk didn’t have more votes than Cal Raleigh, which is fair considering the Seattle Mariners’ backstop is leading the league in home runs. That said, Kirk will likely make the All-Star game as a reserve.

Other Blue Jays with the potential to make the All-Star game as a reserve are George Springer, Ernie Clement, Addison Barger, and Bo Bichette. Kirk, Springer, and Bichette have represented the Jays at the All-Star game in the past.