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Special Friendship Among MLB Stars
San Diego – Following his practice session, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was welcomed to a Dominican feast in the guest clubhouse at Petco Park, courtesy of his childhood friend Fernando Tatis Jr. The San Diego Padres outfielder shared, “Dominican food, obviously. Everything that we like to eat. Hopefully, he can enjoy in this culinary experience.”
Celebrating Traditions
This culinary gesture was not a random act; it is part of a heartfelt tradition between the two friends. Over the years, they have exchanged meals as a token of their friendship. Since the Toronto Blue Jays were visiting the Padres that weekend, the hosting duty fell on Tatis. Guerrero mentioned, “He has to bring the food. He has to. It’s something we always did in the minors, and it’s become a tradition. If he comes to Toronto, I have to find Dominican food to share with him.”
Childhood Bonds
The bond between these two 25-year-olds dates back to their early days as toddlers, when their fathers, Vladimir Sr. and Fernando Sr., played together for the Montreal Expos from 2001 to 2003. They spent their formative years playing in Olympic Stadium, cherishing moments and building a strong camaraderie.
Guerrero reminisced, “He was always like me. He always watched baseball, he always played baseball. He always came to the field early with his dad like me.” These shared experiences not only shaped their childhood but also bolstered their friendship, culminating in both becoming second-generation all-stars.
Big-League Reunion
Whenever their respective teams meet in the major leagues, the encounter becomes even more special. During their recent matchup, Guerrero, with an RBI single and two hits, led the Blue Jays to a 5-1 victory over Tatis and the Padres. Despite Tatis hitting his sixth home run of the season, Blue Jays’ pitcher Yariel Rodriguez shone by striking out seven batters in four innings.
Rodriguez’s impressive performance, highlighted by his strong fastball and well-utilized slider, kept the Padres at bay. His use of the splitter, a pitch he had temporarily set aside while in Japan, showcased his growing prowess on the mound.
Striking a Balance
Given Rodriguez’s limited workload and potential, the Blue Jays are cautious about pushing him too hard. Manager John Schneider emphasized the importance of monitoring the right-hander’s pitch count closely. Rodriguez’s 83-pitch outing was a testament to his ability, with Bowden Francis, Tim Mayza, Yimi Garcia, and Jordan Romano joining forces to secure the win for Toronto.
Guerrero’s pivotal RBI single, along with strong offensive displays from Kiermaier and Turner, propelled the Blue Jays to victory. Turner’s solo home run and the team’s persistent pressure on the Padres’ pitching staff underlined their recent offensive surge.
Enduring Friendship
While Guerrero and Tatis may now belong to different teams and leagues, the bond they share remains unbreakable. Tatis fondly recalled the days when Guerrero’s prodigious power as a young hitter set him apart from his peers. Their shared experiences and mutual support continue to define their friendship, despite the geographical distance that separates them during the season.
Guerrero reflected, “Looking back, we were together as kids, and now we’re in the big leagues, not on the same team, but we play on the same field. That makes me think back on how grateful I am to his dad, my dad, that we’re here today.” Their shared dream of playing professional baseball, nurtured by their fathers’ love for the game, has brought them closer together, transcending team allegiances and league boundaries.
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