On cusp of potential call-up, Vlad Guerrero Jr. gets bad injury news
The Toronto Blue Jays just got some bad news about one of their bright young stars, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Guerrero, who is the number two-ranked prospect in baseball, will be sidelined for at least four weeks with a strained patellar tendon in his left knee. At that point he will be re-evaluated, according to MiLB.com.
Guerrero, the son of soon-to-be Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero, plays for the Double-A for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been diagnosed with a strained patellar tendon in his left knee. Per the club, he will be managed conservatively and will be re-evaluated in four weeks. #BlueJays
— Gregor Chisholm (@GregorChisholm) June 10, 2018
The injury occurred Wednesday during the Fisher Cats’ game against Akron. Guerrero, 19, slid into second base in the fourth inning and came up limping.
His manager, John Schneider, said at the time it was not believed to be a severe injury.
“He checks out fine,” Schneider said. “But with him and all of our players, we’re just being careful and making sure he’s good to go.”
Guerrero has lived up to his promise this year for the Fisher Cats. Through 53 games, he’s batting .407, which leads the Eastern League.
He also has 11 home runs — which is tied for fourth-best — and a league-leading 55 runs batted in.
There had been talk of promoting him to Triple-A, but this injury may set his timetable back.
Source: #BlueJays have discussed the possibility of promoting Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to Triple-A within the next month, as I reported this afternoon on @MLBNetwork. @MLB
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) June 5, 2018
As for a call-up to the majors, this also remains possible given that the Blue Jays, currently 29-35, will likely be out of playoff contention and could be ready to trade their starters, which could clear the way for Guerrero to be called up later this summer.
Guerrero himself seems to be in no hurry.
“I’m fine, calm,’’ he told USA Today last month. “I just come to the field to give the best of myself every day. Whenever I cross that white line, I try to improve. I’m not desperate. God knows the right time.’’
His father is among six players who are set to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame this year.
The others are Chipper Jones, Jim Thome, Trevor Hoffman, Jack Morris and Alan Trammell.
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