Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has officially been named the first captain in Toronto Blue Jays franchise history. The announcement, confirmed by the club Thursday afternoon via a heartfelt video tribute on social media, caps a whirlwind year for the 26-year-old slugger: World Series heroics, a $500 million lifetime deal, and now, the “C” that symbolizes his unbreakable bond with the only team he’s ever known. “Becoming captain of the Blue Jays is the greatest honor of my career,” Guerrero said in the clip, his voice thick with emotion as he stood on the Rogers Centre field, flanked by his father, Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero Sr., and a sea of waving Canadian flags. “This city, these fans—they believed in me when I was just a kid from Montreal dreaming big. Now, it’s my turn to lead us to more championships.”
It’s a historic pivot for the Blue Jays, who have leaned on informal leadership since their 1977 inception—no player has ever worn the official captain’s armband. But after Guerrero’s October playoff odyssey—six homers tying franchise records, a 1.306 OPS, and ALCS MVP honors en route to the World Series—GM Ross Atkins called it “inevitable.” The timing? Perfect, with 2026 spring training looming and Guerrero fresh off a winter of reflection. Fans erupted online, with #VladdyCaptain trending nationwide, blending pride (“Born ready in the True North!”) and nostalgia (“From Expo kid to Jays king—full circle”).
From Montreal Roots to Toronto Royalty: The Making of a Captain
Guerrero’s story is as Canadian as poutine and playoff heartbreak. Born March 16, 1999, in Montreal during his father’s Expos tenure, he inked with Toronto as a 16-year-old international free agent on July 2, 2015—ranked No. 1 globally by MLB Pipeline. Debuting in 2019, he exploded in 2021 with 48 homers (a 22-and-under record) and a .311 average, but it was 2025 that etched him eternal: a .298/44/123 slash line, All-Star nod, and that unforgettable Fall Classic run where he belted a Game 1 bomb off the Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto, then a grand slam in the ALDS—the first in Jays playoff lore.
Off the field? He’s the anti-diva: Fluent in English by 2025 (ditching interpreters for fan chats), a devout Christian, and a hockey nut—famously donning “Captain Clutch” Marie-Philip Poulin’s Team Canada jersey en route to World Series Game 7. That April extension—a 14-year, $500 million pact making him MLB’s highest-paid position player—locked in his future, but whispers of captaincy started then. Teammate Bo Bichette, his ride-or-die since rookie ball, posted: “The face of this franchise, and now the heart. Let’s eat, Vladdy.” Even Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews chimed in back in April: “Incredible player… the kind of leader you build around.”
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