Guerrero Jr. garners career night at plate

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. plays a different position than his father did, but he's starting to look a lot like him when he steps into the batter's box. 

Toronto's No. 5 prospect set a career high with four hits -- including a homer and two doubles -- and drove in three runs Thursday as Rookie-level Bluefield lost to visiting Princeton, 10-6. 

"Everything has been kind of clicking for him the past few games," Bluefield manager Dennis Holmberg said. "The season kind of started slowly for him. The start of the season and the change from extended spring training to night baseball and facing different organizations maybe had him trying to do a little too much. He's calmed himself down lately and maybe is a little more focused and is doing what he does best, which is putting the barrel on the baseball."

The 17-year-old third baseman laced an RBI double to left field in the first inning and followed that with a single to center in the third. After Nick Sinay drew a two-out walk in the fifth, Guerrero Jr. belted a two-run shot to left for his third homer of the season and his first in 15 games. 

"There's no question that his bat is his best tool," Holmberg said. "He's got an instinct to put the barrel of the bat on the baseball. He has a feel for the game and what he's trying to do at the plate. He always has a plan when goes to hit. He's got tremendous bat speed and can hit the ball with power to all fields."

Holmberg said Guerrero Jr. reminded him most of his father, Vladimir -- a nine-time All-Star and former American League MVP -- in his last at-bat, when he flied out to center in the ninth to finish 4-for-5.

"His dad's reputation precedes him, especially since he was known as a bad ball hitter," the skipper said. "[Guerrero Jr.] had his last at-bat of the ballgame and it must've been close to 10 pitches. He hung in there and fouled off a bunch of pitches and tried his very best to keep his at-bat alive. He has to take some pride with how he hung in there and gave his team a great at-bat. He has a knack for, when he gets behind, he defends the plate pretty well."

Canadian sports network TSN recently made a trip to Bluefield for a feature on Guerrero Jr. and his father. The younger Guerrero is hitting .260 with three homers and 19 RBIs in his first 19 professional games. 

"He's got a lot of hype and a lot of coverage. I don't think I've ever managed a 17-year-old kid with as much upside as he's got," Holmberg said. "Just imagine, he could be a junior in high school, but here he is playing professional baseball against 22- and 23-year-old pitchers.

"He's a classy kid for a 17-year-old. He's a few years beyond his age, believe me. His makeup and his happy-go-lucky attitude fits in well with the rest of the ballclub. There's nothing that distances himself from anybody else on the team."

While Guerrero Jr. is producing at the plate, the Blue Jays haven't settled on what position best suits him yet. The Montreal native, who could end up in the outfield, is seeing a lot of action at third base, and Holmberg said he's pleased with the early returns. 

"His actions and his play at third base have been good. He was really good in extended spring training and has been pretty good since joining us," the manager said. "He's having to get used to different playing fields here. In extended spring training, the fields are well-manicured and play relatively the same.

"Now he's getting a different look at different fields. But for now, it's been so far so good at third base. Time will tell whether or not he stays there, but being able to play the infield allows him to become more involved in a ballgame. He's got the hands and the arm and everything that you'd look for in a future Major Leaguer."

Bobby Melley collected four hits and Oscar Rojas knocked a three-run triple for Princeton.

Rays starter Jose Nova allowed four hits and two walks while striking out five over five innings. Christian Cox (1-1) surrendered three runs on two hits while failing to retire a batter.

Dalton Moats (1-0) gave up three hits while fanning one over 2 1/3 frames in relief of starter Ethan Clark, who yielded four runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out five over five innings.