Losing a franchise cornerstone always stings the soul of a clubhouse.
Seeing your partner in crime wear a different uniform takes serious mental adjustment.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Signed as International Free Agent, 2015 by Toronto Blue Jays) knows this reality intimately. He grew up right alongside his fellow infielder.
He admitted recently that the first week of training camp felt a little bit off.
Just watch this incredibly raw clip of Vladdy speaking from the heart about his lifelong teammate.
“The first week was a little bit off.”
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had been playing with Bo Bichette since he was 17 years old:
They started chasing big league dreams together when Vlad was just 17 years old.
Bo Bichette (Drafted Round 2, 2016 by Toronto Blue Jays) grew into an absolute force in Toronto. He hit .311 with 18 home runs and an .840 OPS last season.
Replacing that elite offensive production is incredibly hard for any lineup.
Yet, this temporary sadness quickly transforms into a profound opportunity for fresh leadership.
Vladdy is taking absolute control of the clubhouse
We feel a massive surge of pride watching our superstar embrace this heavy responsibility with a smile.
Guerrero himself posted a massive .292 batting average, 23 home runs, and an .848 OPS last year.
He is the undisputed heartbeat of this potent offense now.
The roster clearly looks up to his infectious energy every single day. He sets the standard for how hard this group works.
Change is an inevitable part of building a perennial contender in modern baseball.
We have to appreciate the amazing memories the duo created while completely trusting the path forward. The front office knows exactly what they are doing.
Watching Guerrero step completely out of that shared shadow is going to be electric.
He is ready to carry this city squarely on his massive shoulders.
This slight emotional adjustment will only fuel his desire to bring a championship parade back home.