Vladimir Guerrero Jr received a hero’s welcome upon his return to Montreal on Monday, but there was one notable fly in the ointment.
The Toronto Blue Jays prospect was back in Montreal for a Grapefruit League game between the Jays and the St. Louis Cardinals. The city marks not only Guerrero Jr’s birthplace but also where his famous father and namesake used to terrorize opposing pitchers and baserunners alike for the now-defunct Montreal Expos. The 19-year-old told reporters (per Blue Jays broadcaster Mike Wilner) that the first thing he did when he got into the clubhouse, which was formerly the Expos’ clubhouse, was look for the ice cream machine that he frequented as a kid. Alas, the machine was unfortunately no longer.
Vladdy, Jr. says that when he got into #Bluejays clubhouse today, formerly #Expos clubhouse, the first thing he did was look for the ice cream machine that was there when he was a kid. It’s gone.
— Mike Wilner (@Wilnerness590) March 26, 2018
It was far from all bad though for Junior, who received a nice standing ovation from the Montreal crowd when he entered the game in the seventh inning as a defensive replacement.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr, wearing his dad's old number, gets a standing ovation in his father's old stomping grounds pic.twitter.com/aJQfxnUXLw
— BP Toronto (@BProToronto) March 27, 2018
Vladdy Sr also thanked the city for the warm welcome they gave to his son.
Enjoy the moment VGJ
I’m proud of you. Thank You Montreal for receiving my son as one of yours. pic.twitter.com/0gdcbkRWtu— Vladimir Guerrero (@VladGuerrero27) March 27, 2018
While the ice cream machine’s demise is definitely a gut punch right to the childhood, Guerrero Jr, an elite prospect at the third base spot, is giving many reason to believe that the future will be just as memorable as the past was.
