Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Becoming A Complete Hitter
4 years agoToronto Blue Jays corner infielder Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has always had raw power, but he's becoming more of a complete hitter in 2021 during his breakout with Toronto. Guerrero finished his minor league career with more walks (151) than strikeouts (139) and was on base around 41 percent of the time. Entering Friday, he had lowered his chase rate on pitches out of the zone from 28.9% in 2019 to 20.7% this year. He's also making poor contact 53.1% of the time in 2021, as opposed to 65% in 2020. The 22-year-old seems to be mastering the strike zone while making pitchers come to him. Guerrero has been more disciplined and is chasing fewer balls down and away and up and away in the zone. Almost all of his major league-best 22 homers have come on pitches in his belt-high hot zone. The young slugger made a point to lose weight and gain flexibility in the offseason, and it has paid huge dividends. We shouldn't have to tell you this, but keep rolling Guerrero out in your lineups each and every day.
Source: MLB.com - Matt Kelly
Source: MLB.com - Matt Kelly