The 2025 World Series will be remembered for its star power, marathon games, and the candid, headline-grabbing reflections that followed. The Los Angeles Dodgers, hailed as a “dream team” packed with Most Valuable Players and Cy Young Award winners, ultimately edged out the Toronto Blue Jays in a dramatic seven-game showdown. Yet, as the dust settles and spring training ramps up, it’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s unfiltered take on baseball’s most celebrated two-way player—and his praise for an unexpected adversary—that’s sparking debate across the baseball world.
For the Blue Jays, the journey to the Fall Classic was a feat in itself. Written off as massive underdogs, Toronto pushed the Dodgers to the brink, even forcing an epic 18-inning battle in Game 3. Guerrero Jr., the Jays’ charismatic first baseman, was at the heart of their postseason surge, slashing a formidable .333/.474/.600 with two home runs over the series. But when the microphones turned his way after arriving at spring training on February 13, 2026, Guerrero Jr. was more interested in talking about the arms he faced than his own heroics.
In a wide-ranging, nearly two-hour interview with Dominican baseball commentator Yancen Pujols—translated by The Athletic—Guerrero Jr. pulled no punches. Asked about facing Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers’ superstar who made headlines on both sides of the ball, Guerrero Jr. shrugged off the hype. “We knew we were up against the ‘dream team’ and everyone had us as massive underdogs. People were already calling it, swept 1-2-3-4, done. But honestly? Shohei Ohtani wasn’t that tough to hit,” Guerrero said in Spanish.
Ohtani, for his part, delivered an impressive World Series performance. He belted three home runs, drew nine walks, and pitched in two games, reaching base 18 times and driving in five runs. But for Guerrero Jr., the real challenge came from another corner of the Dodgers’ vaunted rotation: Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
“Yeah, that dude was nasty,” Guerrero told Pujols, tipping his cap in respect. “Straight up MVP. I tip my cap. He was painting the corners low, dotting the knees, throwing strikes to everybody and dominating.” Guerrero’s words echoed the sentiment felt by many who watched Yamamoto’s postseason masterclass. The Japanese right-hander, in his first World Series appearance, was nothing short of electric.
Yamamoto pitched in three World Series games, amassing 17 2/3 innings of work. His numbers were staggering: two quality starts, a 1.02 ERA, and 15 strikeouts. In Game 2, he tossed a complete game, surrendering just one earned run while fanning eight Blue Jays. Game 6 saw him go six innings, again allowing only a single run on 96 pitches. But it was Game 7 that cemented his legend. On no days of rest, Yamamoto emerged from the bullpen in the ninth inning, hurling 2 2/3 scoreless frames to lock down his third win of the series and secure World Series MVP honors.
The Blue Jays’ bats, so potent throughout the postseason, found themselves stymied whenever Yamamoto took the mound. Guerrero Jr. was quick to acknowledge this, contrasting Yamamoto’s command with Ohtani’s more hittable offerings. “Yamamoto was the real deal,” he said. “That guy did not go past your knees, and he threw strikes to everyone.”
That’s not to say Ohtani was a walk in the park. Guerrero Jr. went 1-for-5 against the two-way phenom, striking out once and drawing a walk. But his lone hit was a big one—a two-run homer in Game 4 that propelled the Jays to a 6-2 victory and kept their championship hopes alive. “Outside of that swing, I didn’t have much success against the Dodgers’ standout,” Guerrero admitted, but he made it clear that Yamamoto’s precision and resilience left the deeper impression.
Guerrero Jr.’s candor didn’t stop at his World Series opponents. He opened up about his own journey, both on and off the field. The 2025 season saw him sign a record-shattering $500 million contract extension with the Blue Jays—a 14-year pact that was quietly agreed upon days before it was announced. Guerrero recalled the moment he got the call, just half an hour before taking the field against the New York Mets on April 5. “Oh, it looks like you’re staying here,” infielder Andrés Giménez joked, having spotted Guerrero’s beaming smile. The deal would keep the slugger in Toronto through his prime, a cornerstone for a franchise eager to build on its recent success.
Reflecting on his growth, Guerrero Jr. spoke about his evolving relationship with his Hall-of-Fame father, Vladimir Guerrero Sr. “I used to confuse fear with respect,” he shared, describing how daily texts and phone calls have brought them closer since 2023. The younger Guerrero credits his father’s support for helping him navigate the pressures of stardom and the expectations that come with such a massive contract.
Looking ahead to 2026, Guerrero Jr. isn’t content to rest on his laurels. His regular season home run total dipped to 23 last year—his lowest in a full 162-game campaign since his rookie season—but he caught fire in October, launching eight homers in just 18 postseason contests. “My swing’s not going to change,” Guerrero insisted. “It’s just about hitting the ball farther. Instead of hitting line drives, a little more (loft). But nothing’s changed.” He’s also aiming to improve his walk rate, working with fellow slugger Juan Soto to sharpen his plate discipline. Still, Guerrero believes elite plate vision is an innate gift. “You’re born with it,” he said, though he’s committed to getting better any way he can.
The Blue Jays, buoyed by Guerrero’s leadership and a core of young talent, are already looking to the future. Their gutsy World Series run and the lessons learned from facing baseball’s best have set the stage for another crack at the title. As spring training unfolds, the focus shifts from last October’s heartbreak to the promise of a new season—and the hope that Toronto’s next chapter will end with a championship celebration.
For now, the echoes of the 2025 World Series linger: the Dodgers’ triumph, Yamamoto’s brilliance, and Guerrero Jr.’s honest, sometimes provocative assessments. If there’s one thing fans can count on, it’s that the conversation around baseball’s brightest stars is far from over. The Blue Jays, led by their outspoken first baseman, are ready to write the next act.