Pedro Martinez identifies key aspect of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s game that's impressed him the most

Douglas Santo

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Pedro Martinez identifies key aspect of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s game that's impressed him the most image

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has blossomed into one of the best players in the MLB, and has the Blue Jays in the American League Championship Series for the first time since 2016.

Vladimir Guerrero Sr. and Pedro Martinez developed a deep friendship during their Hall of Fame career's and Martinez took on the honor of being Guerrero Jr.'s Godfather.

Now, Martinez is more impressed than ever with how his Godson has been able to display his leadership on a Blue Jays team that's doing things that haven't been done in nearly a decade.

Martinez identifies key aspect of Guerrero Jr.'s game

Guerrero Jr. has now been in the MLB for seven years, and has been an All-Star for the last five seasons.

The Blue Jays' leader is hitting .288 in his career with an .861 OPS, and has finished top 10 in the MVP race twice.

However, aside from his impressive hitting, Martinez identified another part of his game that's impressed and surprised him most recently.

"If you haven't noticed what really impresses everybody, it's his leadership," Martinez said (h/t Newsweek). "His command is embracing of the team. Believe it or not, I know my godson. I never expected such an impact inside the clubhouse with all the players."

Guerrero Jr. may be a star on the Blue Jays, but he's not the only star and certainly not the most veteran player.

Veteran outfielder George Springer had an outstanding season, hitting .309 with a .959 OPS, and star shortstop Bo Bichette complimented that, hitting .311 with an .840 OPS.

However, Guerrero Jr. has stepped up as a leader in Toronto's clubhouse among other stars.

"You can sense it, you can feel it, he's expressive about his leadership. I think signing Vladdy must be the biggest step the Toronto Blue Jays have ever done," Martinez said (h/t Newsweek). "Vladdy has taken a leadership role that not even his season as a hitter compares to what he's been able to do in the clubhouse with the team.

"His behavior, his weight have been as steady as ever. Vladdy really improved in all aspects of the game. The leadership part really caught me a little bit by surprise."

Now, the Blue Jays have their backs against the wall down 2-0 in the ALCS hitting the road in Seattle. Toronto must win two of the three games in Seattle to extend the ALCS back home.

The Mariners' pitching staff has stifled the Blue Jays' bats. After hitting .529 with three home runs and 10 RBI in the ALDS, Guerrero Jr. is 0-for-7 in the ALCS.

The Blue Jays will need their star's leadership in the clubhouse and his performance in the batter's box to shine if they're going to make the improbable comeback.

Douglas Santo

Douglas Santo is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. As a senior at Arizona State University, he will complete his B.A. in sports journalism with a minor in business in December 2025. Before his time with Sporting News, Douglas covered the NFL and MLB for Athlon Sports and contributed as a digital reporter for Arizona PBS/Cronkite News. He is also the head of Sun Devil Daily, managing all content produced about Arizona State Sports.