It's been a rough start to the MLB season for the Toronto Blue Jays, at least in terms of support from fans.
For the first time in more than a decade, the team failed to sell out its opening day at the Rogers Centre last month. A few weeks later, the season was panned as "unwatchable" after 111 strikeouts in just 11 games.
Analysts have been blaming management's "rebuilding" strategy for the lull in game attendance, as well as the recent loss of beloved veterans such as Russell Martin, Kendrys Morales and "Superman" Kevin Pillar.
Remember when @vladdyjr27 hit a homer off a tee during last year’s #PlayBall? Well, tonight he’s debuting on @MLBNetwork! Oakland @Athletics at Toronto @BlueJays at 7pm ET (local blackouts apply). pic.twitter.com/px9FDWUWHU
— MLB Network PR (@MLBNetworkPR) April 26, 2019
Our one great hope? An exciting new player for fans to freak out over (and perhaps even buy some tickets to see).
It's happening!
— MLB (@MLB) April 24, 2019
MLB's top prospect, Vlad Jr., is joining the @BlueJays. 👀 pic.twitter.com/yVYQIDgpTG
That hope has emerged in the form of 20-year-old Vladimir Guerrero Jr. — a Canadian-Dominican third baseman who has been unironically hailed as "the greatest player in the history of organized sports."
The Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Show | 4.26.19
— Stadium (@Stadium) April 24, 2019
“Coming to a Major League ballpark near you.”pic.twitter.com/Zyq7QY1Tp5
Guerrero Jr., son of Baseball Hall of Fame-r Vladimir Guerrero, was born in Montreal but signed with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2015. He's been playing in the minors ever since and is widely considered to be the top prospect in all of baseball right now.
Llegando a Toronto, ya con mi hijo. Lo felicito y lo que hace es brindarme un café. 😂 || I just arrived in Toronto, congratulate my boy and what he does is give me coffee. 😂 pic.twitter.com/lGwkTw1lW7
— Vladimir Guerrero (@VladGuerrero27) April 26, 2019
Tonight, he makes his MLB debut in Toronto.
First day of school feels 😁 #LetsGoBlueJays pic.twitter.com/8y9cM9fssB
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) April 25, 2019
The Blue Jays are set to take on the Oakland Athletics at 7:07 p.m. at Rogers Centre and, according to sources inside the organization, ticket sales are the highest they've been all season to date with more than 30,000 people expected to be in attendance.
Previous to this, attendance had been hovering in the teens. By comparison, a game earlier this week against the San Francisco Giants where Pillar played against his former teammates brought in just over 20,000 fans.
In a few hours, @RogersCentre will be buzzing to see the most anticipated debut in MLB history.
— Lukas Weese (@Weesesports) April 26, 2019
Vladimir Guerrero Jr, welcome to your new HOME as a member of the @BlueJays. #BlueJays #VladdyJr ⚾️🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/KJ190gwHhy
"It's the beginning of a new era in Blue Jays baseball: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has arrived," writes MLB.com's Gregor Chisolm of tonight's game.
To Vladdy,
— MLB (@MLB) April 26, 2019
Love, Tu padre pic.twitter.com/mIjj2EkywQ
"Guerrero hasn't even played in a Major League game, and yet when he does, it will immediately become one of the biggest moments in franchise history," he continues. "Baseball fans have been waiting a long time for this day to arrive."
by Lauren O'Neil via blogTO
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