Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. talks MLB The Show 23 and his ‘mission’ to beat the Yankees

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Blue Jays fans are already well aware Vladimir Guerrero Jr. would never sign with the Yankees — even if he was dead. So it’s no surprise to hear the first baseman say that whether he’s playing Toronto’s division rival in real life or on Sony’s MLB The Show video game, there’s really one team he wants to beat: New York.

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“They’re a team that always needs to be beaten and I just love to beat them,” Guerrero tells Postmedia through a translator on a video call to promote the PlayStation 5 title. “So that’s my mission.”

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Entering his fifth year in the MLB, Guerrero has hit 13 home runs and 41 RBI against the Bronx Bombers.

Since the release of MLB The Show 23 last month, Guerrero has been getting his reps in playing against New York on PS5 (it is also available on Xbox and Nintendo Switch). Since its launch in 2006, The Show has become the gold standard in baseball video game excellence.

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Guerrero, 24, has established himself as one of the most dangerous sluggers in the American League — and a fan favourite that gamers like to play as in The Show. He finished second in the race for AL MVP in 2021, launching 48 home runs with 111 RBI, 123 runs and a 1.002 OPS, all career-highs.

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In 2022, Guerrero posted a .274 average with 32 home runs, which earned him a second consecutive trip to the all-star game.

In the leadup to this season, which has seen the Jays on an extended road trip, Guerrero has enjoyed getting the chance to launch bombs as Jays shortstop Bo Bichette and has been trying — unsuccessfully — to get hits off of two of the team’s aces, Alek Manoah and Kevin Gausman.

When asked if there’s a trick to getting him out in the game, Guerrero breaks into a grin.

“There isn’t a trick. Players have to try pretty hard to get me out,” he smiles.

When it comes to getting hits in the game, Guerrero answers diplomatically. “There isn’t a pitcher that’s easy to beat in the game or real life,” he says.

The young Dominican player is marvelling at the little details the game has managed to nail down, but he does think his player rating could have been a bit higher. “If they had raised it to 90 or 92, that would have made me feel better,” he jokes.

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New features for this year’s edition, which boasts the Miami Marlins’ home-run blasting all-star Jazz Chisholm Jr., on the cover, include tweaks to the game’s competitive settings, enhanced sound effects, signature crowd chants, as well as new enhancements to Franchise mode, Diamond Dynasty and The Show 23’s amateur draft.

“I like Diamond Dynasty,” Guerrero says of the game’s mode that allows users to assemble their ultimate dream team, “because I can compete with other people.”

Jumping off from earlier editions, gamers can continue to play as two-way players in the Road to the Show mode. But the most distinguishing addition is a new Storyline feature that introduces eight influential Negro League Players — including Buck O’Neil, Martin Dihigo, John Donaldson, Hilton Smith, Jackie Robinson, Rube Foster, Hank Thompson and Satchel Paige — and their stories.

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Like past editions, The Show makers San Diego Studios have introduced new legends into the game giving fans a chance to suit up as retired ball players. This year’s additions include Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, and home run kings Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire.

Guerrero namechecks Jeter, Sosa and his father, Vladimir Guerrero Sr., as three throwback players he suits up as when plugging into The Show.

So far, Guerrero has preferred to play The Show within the confines of Toronto’s Rogers Centre. As the stadium puts the finishing touches on a dramatic renovation, he’s looking forward to seeing the new upgrades in real life when the club plays its first home game of the season Tuesday night against the Detroit Tigers.

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“It’s exciting and the renovations are looking good,” the Montreal-born superstar says. “It seems like the stadium is going to seem a little bit smaller, but it’ll be good for the fans.”

After a Show simulation had the Jays winning 108 regular season games, Guerrero says he’s excited to return to the city he’s called home since his MLB debut in 2019.

“It’s great being back in Toronto. I’m comfortable here and it’s great being the only MLB team in Canada and get that support from across the country.”

MLB The Show 23 is available now.

mdaniell@postmedia.com