Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is the cover athlete of ‘MLB: The Show 24‘, the most played baseball videogame out there. MARCA got to sit down with the MLB star face-to-face, who was also the Home Run Derby 2023 champion. For Vladi, it is an honor being the cover athlete of a game in which his father, Vladimir Guerrero Sr. already graced back in 2006.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr, MARCA interview: “I am truly honored!”
The Dominican-Canadian slugger is well on his way to match and even surpass the the great legacy his father left behind. The Toronto Blue Jays‘ first base is only 24 years old and he already has 130 home runs with many more still in the pipeline. In this interview conducted by MARCA, the players tells all about his expectations of the upcoming MLB season.
MLB: The Show 24 will be available in physical and virtual stores on March 19, 2024.
Vladimir Guerrero’s interview for Marca
QUESTION: First of all, congratulations for being the cover athlete of MLB The Show 24. How do you feel about it?
ANSWER: I’m very happy about it. Grateful. I obviously have played the game since I was little and now I get to be the cover as a grown up. I fee very proud to be the cover.
Q: Something funny happened with your father, Vladimir Guerrero. Who was the cover athlete of this game in 2006 but he was the cover for the PSP pocket version of this game. Have you talked about it since you got the news? What has he told you about it? Is there anything you can tell us about it with you father in that context?
A: Well, I think that what we discussed is that I remember we used to play against each other in 2006 and he always beat me. Then when this happened, I let him know that at least I would be able to win in this game.
Q: Very well, very well. Do you play this game regularly? For how long have you played it? What is your relationship with the game itself? Which is your favorite mode to play?
A: I play Diamond Dinasty because we compete against people we know personally and we don’t know whether they can or can’t play.
Q: Okay. You were also filming the cover special ‘Ride to Reveal’ and you were with both David Ortiz and Eladio Carrion. What was that experience like? Because I know Ortiz was also the cover at some point. How was your experience with him?
A: It was a great experience, you know? I’ve known David since I was little and we have never lost contact. I still get emotional when I see him, same as Eladio, you know? Eladio is one of my favorite artists and we’ve had a really great friendship. A healthy friendship thank God, I was very happy to see he was there.
Q: I would also love to go back to your father for a bit. Because he is an MLB legend and you basically have his pedigree in your veins, right? Out of all the things he taught you, there must be something valuable. Which if these lessons stuck with you or something you remember about your dad that you can share with us? Because out of all his experience as a pro baller, he was in MLB for 15 years right?
A: Sixteen. Well, it’s three things. Respect the game, play hard, and the last one is a word I can’t say here. But basically when someone comes at you and you get back at them, you know. He told me to not let anyone snap at me.
Q: Too bad we can’t curse here. Oh well. What are you expecting from next season? Because both on a personal and group level, I think we are having a very interesting season. Right? What do you expect to accomplish?
A: Obviously I’ve been working hard on the little things I need to improve. My main goal is to do my job while trying to help the team win and get to the Playoffs as ddep as possible. That’s my goal this year.
Q: Okay so, let’s get a little deeper into the conversation before we wrap things up. Because we are almost done. I’ve been following all the great sluggers and for me, you are one of the best from this new era. You are among the best I’ve seen from the last four or five years but got to know. And I don’t know if you agree. I remember during the ’90s when the league was falling apart in many ways, the ratings were low and along came many great sluggers who started competing between than. I was part of that audience when I was a kid. I recall enjoying the competition between many legends. One reached 50 home runs and another one reached 52. And that is thrilling for anybody who enjoys the game. So now we have names such as yourself, there’s Tatis (Fernando Tatis Jr.), there’s Shohei (Ohtani), Aaron Judge, Mike Trout. There are so many. So I feel there is a new era with some strong sluggers coming up. It sorta feels like we are getting a pretty great era. There is a lot of camaraderie but also there are rivalries and I know you enjoy it quite a bit. We can all see you joking during games. How do you experience that, how do you feel it? Also, how do you feel these new rivalries are coming?
A: Well, there are friendly and not-so-friendly rivalries. You know? Thank God, I’ve never had a rivalry that isn’t friendly. I always try to speak with everybody I’m competing with. I always try to get information from them because that can help me improve my game or anything I want to improve. But I do feel we are getting a year with many home runs. I feel there will be five or six players competing up there. I feel this is the year.
Q: Do you see getting to the 62 home runs Judge got two years ago as unnatainable? Do you see this possible soon like this season or during the next five years? There is obviously you, I think you have the capacity to make that happen without a problem.
A: Well, I feel there is still a lot to learn, you know? But yeah, maybe from now and during the next five years there will be those who can get there and even surpass him.
Q: I understand you have a cousin who also played in Major League Baseball. Did you have experiences with him playing the game. Other than your dad, did you also play much with your friends?
A: I play with all my friends all the time. There are three TVs with three consoles to play in the room I’m staying right now. We all play the game, all the time.
Q: In your team (the Blue Jays), I imagine you also play quite a bit.
A: There are many more from the team who play.
Q: Do you ever make any wagers?
A: No, you know betting can bring problems.
Q: Something friendlier such as betting food or something like that.
A: Yes.
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