Like Father, Like Son

- Chris Solari

Bo Bichette’s batting eye remains as laser sharp as his line drives. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. continues to crunch the ball with a crack that audibly defines potential hitting stars.

Prodigious progenies who, upon initial inspection, could surpass their parents’ talents. Premium prospects the Blue Jays hope eventually can equal the long, storied major league careers of their fathers, Dante Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero.

Or better.

“The ultimate ceiling? God prevail, they’ll both be big leaguers. I mean, they have all the ingredients to be that type of player,” said Blue Jays special assistant Sandy Alomar Sr., who knows about having sons follow in his baseball footprint. “They’re very smart. They seem to be very patient. And as young kids, when you have that knowledge and you have those type of tools, I don’t think they would have any type of problem, provided they stay healthy.”

And patience, more than pedigree, is what both need to display more than anything. Both at the plate and with their careers.

There’s no question the two low Class A Lansing Lugnuts—Bichette at shortstop and Guerrero at third base—proved their abilities in the Midwest League and physically were ready for a promotion. The two Midwest League all-stars also were part of the Futures Game in Miami.

And they didn’t leave Florida after the event. The Blue Jays rewarded their young, burgeoning stars with a promotion to high Class A Dunedin after their all-star weekend showcase.