Blue Jays moving Vlad Jr. to 1st base/DH
The Toronto Blue Jays are shifting Vladimir Guerrero Jr. off third base ahead of the 2020 season.
Guerrero will now primarily serve as the team's first baseman and designated hitter, manager Charlie Montoyo told reporters.
Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo says Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is going to focus more on playing at first base and DH during camp and throughout the 2020 season.
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 10, 2020
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While third base will remain an option for Guerrero, Travis Shaw is set to be the Blue Jays' primary third baseman in 2020. Shaw, who signed a one-year, $4-million deal with Toronto this past offseason, was initially expected to slot in at first.
Prior to making his major-league debut in 2019, Guerrero's defense at third base was often cited as the reason he remained in the minors.
It was Guerrero's prodigious bat, not his defense, that drew the attention of scouts and fans. MLB Pipeline graded his hit tool at 80, and he hit .331/.414/.531 with 44 home runs in 289 career minor-league games.
In his first full season in the majors, Guerrero stumbled at times, and his power wasn't consistently on display. He finished the campaign with a .272 batting average and 15 home runs over 464 at-bats. Meanwhile, he committed 17 errors in 96 games at third.