On this day in Blue Jays history: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. sets Home Run Derby record with 91 home runs

Originally posted on Bluejaysnation | By Ryley Delaney | Last updated Jul 8, 2025 7:15 PM ET

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has become one of the best young hitters in baseball.

This is “On this day in Blue Jays history”, where we look at notable events that happened involving the Toronto Blue Jays. There were five notable events involving the Blue Jays on July 8.

Making his big league debut in 2019, Guerrero Jr.’s first two seasons in the big leagues were okay at best, but that all changed in 2021 when he finished tied for the most home runs in the league, earning an American League MVP nomination.

On this day six years ago, Guerrero Jr. participated in the Home Run Derby, hitting a record 91 home runs. Ultimately, he fell short to Pete Alonso in the finals, but Guerrero Jr.’s 91 home run still stands as a record, and will for a while if the format remains the same.

Guerrero Jr. eventually got his revenge in the 2023 derby , knocking off Randy Arozarena in the final. His father, Vladimir Guerrero, also won the Home Run Derby in 2007, making them the first father-son duo to win in history. Guerrero Jr.’s single-round home run record of 40 was broken in 2023 by Julio Rodríguez, who hit 41, defeating Alonso in the first round. Guerrero Jr. outhomered Rodríguez in the second round.

Sticking with home runs, since the 2000 season, the Blue Jays have hit the third-most home runs in the league.

In the first season of that sample size, the Blue Jays became the first team in Major League Baseball history to have four players hit 20 or more home runs by the All-Star break. On this day 25 years ago, José Cruz Jr. hit his 20th, joining Carlos Delgado (28 home runs), Tony Batista (24 home runs), and Raul Mondesi (23 home runs) in the 20-home-run club.

Cruz went on to slash .242/.323/.466 with 31 home runs in 681 plate appearances for a 94 wRC+ that season. His career-best season was in 2001, as he slashed .274/.326/.530 with 34 home runs in 627 plate appearances.

Acquired in a trade with the Seattle Mariners, this was one that the Blue Jays definitely won. For his Blue Jay career, Cruz Jr. slashed .250/.331/.462 with 122 home runs in 2,901 plate appearances. That season, the Blue Jays finished with an 83-79 record, missing the postseason for the seventh consecutive season.

Both those events were positive for the Jays, but there have been some not-so-positive moments on July 8 in their history. In 2005, Roy Halladay was hit with a line-drive comebacker, fracturing his shin. The 2005 season was on pace to be Halladay’s best, as he had a 2.41 ERA and 3.03 FIP in 141.2 innings pitched before the injury.

Two years ago, the Blue Jays were no-hit by the Detroit Tigers. Matt Manning pitched 6.1 innings, Jason Foley pitched 1.1 innings, and Alex Lange pitched the final inning, as they combined for a team no-hitter. Somehow, it’s not the most recent time the Blue Jays have been no-hit.

That same day, then Blue Jays prospect Yosver Zulueta gave up a bases-loaded double to Nasim Nuñez in the 2023 All-Star Futures Game, as Nuñez went on to win the MVP of the game.

This article first appeared on Bluejaysnation and was syndicated with permission.

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