Sports
Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. wins Hank Aaron Award
The Toronto infielder follows up his American League MVP Award nomination by becoming the youngest player to earn the honor named after the Braves Hall of Famer.
November 10, 2021 1:22pm
Updated: November 11, 2021 3:38pm
The 2021 major-league baseball season may be over, but Toronto Blue Jays All-Star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. keeps knocking it out of the park.
On Tuesday, the first baseman/third baseman was named the winner of the American League's 2021 Hank Aaron Award, which honors the best offensive players in each league. Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper earned the honor in the National League.
On Monday, Guerrero, Blue Jays teammate and second baseman Marcus Semien and Los Angeles Angels pitcher Shohei Ohtani were named finalists for the American League Most Valuable Player Award, the winner of which will be announced on Nov. 18th.
The Hank Aaron Award, which was voted on by fans and media, was established in 1999. It is named after the Hall of Famer who hit 755 career home runs and died in January at the age of 86.
“I’m very proud to work hard and have my hard work show through and win an award like this,” Guerrero said on MLB Network. “Very proud and very happy.
"The key for me is hitting line drives."
Guerrero, 22, who was born in Montreal but raised in the Dominican Republic, is the son of Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero Sr., a nine-time All-Star who hit 449 home runs for four MLB teams.
A first-time All-Star in 2021, the Blue Jays' Guerrero hit 48 home runs to share the major-league lead with Kansas Royals catcher Salvador Perez. In 161 games, Guerrero batted .311 and finished with 111 RBIs, which tied him with Oakland Athletics first baseman Matt Olson for sixth in baseball.
Guerrero becomes the youngest player and the fourth Blue Jay to receive the Hank Aaron Award. Carlos Delgado (2000), Jose Bautista (2010, 2011) and Josh Donaldson (2015) are Toronto's other winners.
