Offensively, there is no doubt that Vlad Jr. has one of the most prodigious power shots in the game, even at such a young age, and this decision allows him to focus on what he does best. Vlad Jr. has completed 27 home runs in 514 plate games while reducing by 272 / .339 / .433 at the age of 20. Getting through the diamond was a possibility and in some ways it makes sense to do it as soon as possible rather than spending development time in a position with no long term future. It is certainly possible that Guerrero Jr. will end up as a primary designated hitter, but he will try his hand first in 2020.
With Vlad Jr. moving to the first, Travis Shaw Mostly expect to get third place, according to Nicholson-Smith. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. didn’t play a third, but the infielder / outfielder could probably pick it up, while the second baseman Cavan Biggio played a bit in the hot corner in Triple-A. Breyvic valera is also able to handle the third.
Shaw, signed as a free agent, comes out of a strangely disappointing performance in 2019 when he only hit .157 / .281 / .270 through 270 appearances with the Brewers. This allowed the Blue Jays to catch it cheaply, as they hope it will bounce back to something closer to its .243 / .327 / .451 career line.
