The Son Becomes the Father – Vladimir Guerrero Jr homers to deep left-center field 190mm | f4 | 1/2500 | ISO 250
Most ballplayers have to be seen to be fully understood and appreciated. Detroit Tigers Hall of Fame broadcaster Ernie Harwell once said that “baseball is a ballet without music.” But there are a select few players that do not need to be witnessed with the eye in order to comprehend their impact, but only with the ear. Vladimir Guerrero Jr happens to be one of those players. The son of recently-elected Hall of Fame outfielder Vladimir Guerrero, he is not as long or as wiry as his father, nor does he quite possess his defensive prowess. His swing however resembles that of his father’s, and is a thing of beauty. And when he makes contact, the rifle-shot sound is like few others I have ever heard. I have made a point of trying to see him play twice this year, knowing full well that even at age 19 he will not be with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays) for long. His stats bear witness to this: through 6/4/18, in his first 200 ABs for the Fisher Cats Guerrero Jr. has hit .409/.461/.677 with 18 2B, 11 HR, and 54 RBI. If he can translate this success at higher levels it’s the kind of production you only see, or hear, once or twice in a generation.
This is a composite of three exposures, edited together to try and illustrate the full might of Guerrero Jr’s swing. This shows Vlad Jr. hitting a home run to deep left-center field…a hit that must have traveled close to 450 ft when all was said and done. All that catcher Austin Bossart can do is watch. All three were captured at 190mm | f4 | 1/2500 | ISO 250
Vlad Jr in Contemplation 190mm | f4 | 1/2500 | ISO 250
Home is where the Heart is 240mm | f4 | 1/2500 | ISO 250