On this day in Blue Jays history: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. wins 2023 Home Run Derby

Two years ago, Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. won his first Home Run Derby.

In the last “On this day in Blue Jays’ history“, we looked at Guerrero Jr.’s record-breaking 2019 Home Run Derby, among other things. Just over four years later, he participated in his second Home Run Derby and won it.

In the first round, Guerrero Jr. took on Los Angeles Dodgers’ infielder/outfielder Mookie Betts, winning the round with 26 home runs to 11. For some reason, Betts was ranked as the third seed in this Home Run Derby, which is odd considering his lack of raw power compared to the rest of the field. This isn’t a knock on Betts, as the player picked 172nd overall in the 2011 draft is a first ballot Hall of Famer.

In 2019, Guerrero Jr. set a single-round Home Run Derby record with 40 home runs, en route to a record of 91 home runs. The latter record still stands, while the former record was broken by Julio Rodríguez in the first round of the 2023 Home Run Derby, as he hit 41 home runs without the swing-off that Guerrero Jr. had.

That pace Rodríguez set in the first round cost him in his matchup against Guerrero Jr., as he hit just 20 home runs. With 42 seconds remaining of bonus time. The Blue Jays’ first baseman managed to hit 21 home runs, sending him to the finals of the Home Run Derby for the second time in his career.

Rodríguez had already eliminated Pete Alonso, the player who defeated Guerrero Jr. in the finals of the 2019 Home Run Derby. This time, he faced Randy Arozarena in the finals. Unlike in the matchup against Rodríguez, Guerrero Jr. went first, hitting 25 home runs. Fortunately, Arozarena fell just short, hitting 23 home runs en route to Guerrero Jr. winning his first Home Run Derby. He joined his father as the first father/son duo to win the award.

In his seven-year career, Guerrero Jr. has only participated in these two Home Run Derbys. However, things could change if the Blue Jays ever host an All-Star game, in which Guerrero Jr. said he’d be a lock to participate.

Although he won’t participate in the 2025 Home Run Derby, he’ll be making his fourth start in the All-Star game in the last five seasons. The only two times he hasn’t made the All-Star game were in 2019 and 2020, with the latter being because there was no All-Star Game.

On top of the Home Run Derby title, Guerrero Jr. was named the 2021 All-Star Game MVP, the youngest player to ever win the award.