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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays will not participate in the Home Run Derby to defend his title
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    Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays will not participate in the Home Run Derby to defend his title

    Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will not be defending his Home Run Derby title this year in Texas.

    The Toronto Blue Jays first baseman told Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi ahead of the team’s game Friday against the New York Yankees that he has no intention of competing in the event this summer.

    “He is satisfied with the fact that he got that Home Run Derby victory last year,” Davidi said pre-game. “It was something that he wanted to do. He wants to give other people a chance to try and win the Derby, as well.

    “He wants to make sure he’s putting himself in the best position physically for the rest of the season. It’s a draining experience, as you can tell, and he doesn’t want to do anything above and beyond right now.”

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    Guerrero won the 2023 event at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, smashing 72 total homers over three rounds to knock off Mookie Betts, hometown favourite Julio Rodriguez and Randy Arozarena.

    The 25-year-old joined his dad, Vlad Sr., to become the first father-son duo to both win a Home Run Derby.

    Guerrero Jr. also starred in the 2019 Derby, setting multiple records on his way to a defeat in the final against Pete Alonso.

    On Thursday, it was revealed that Guerrero had been voted onto Phase 2 of All-Star voting as one of the top two vote-getters among American League first basemen and will go against Ryan Mountcastle for a starting spot in the Midsummer Classic.

    In 2024, Guerrero is slashing .289/.370/.447 with 11 home runs and 42 RBIs and has gone on a power surge recently with four long balls in his last six games.

    While it looks like he won’t be adding another Home Run Derby belt to his trophy case this season, Guerrero did leave the door open to competing again in the future.

    “Maybe down the road sometime he’d consider doing another Home Run Derby, but for the moment, he’s good,” Davidi said.

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    Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the young star of the Toronto Blue Jays, has decided not to participate in this year’s Home Run Derby to defend his title. The decision comes as a surprise to many fans who were looking forward to seeing the 22-year-old slugger showcase his power once again on the big stage.

    Guerrero Jr. won the Home Run Derby last year in impressive fashion, hitting a total of 91 home runs over three rounds to take home the crown. His performance was one for the ages, and many expected him to return this year to defend his title and potentially add another trophy to his collection.

    However, Guerrero Jr. has opted to sit out of the competition this year, citing a desire to focus on helping his team make a playoff push. The Blue Jays are currently in the thick of the playoff race in the highly competitive American League East, and Guerrero Jr. wants to ensure that he is fully rested and ready to contribute to his team’s success down the stretch.

    While fans may be disappointed that they won’t get to see Guerrero Jr. in this year’s Home Run Derby, they can take solace in the fact that he is putting his team first and prioritizing their success over individual accolades. Guerrero Jr. is having a stellar season at the plate, leading the league in home runs and batting average, and his presence in the lineup will be crucial for the Blue Jays as they look to secure a playoff spot.

    In the end, Guerrero Jr.’s decision to skip the Home Run Derby is a testament to his maturity and team-first mentality. While fans may miss seeing him compete in the event, they can rest assured that he is focused on what truly matters – helping his team win games and ultimately achieve their goal of making it to the postseason.