The latest on Vlad Jr.'s Major League arrival

April 18th, 2019

MINNEAPOLIS -- Blue Jays fans will have to wait at least a few more days before Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is called up to make his Major League debut.

Toronto's fan base has been waiting on pins and needles for news of Guerrero's imminent arrival. There was some speculation it might happen as soon as this weekend in Oakland, but that has since been ruled out, so the earliest he will be promoted is at some point during next week's homestand.

Triple-A Buffalo announced Thursday afternoon that Guerrero will be holding a media availability in Buffalo on Friday at 2 p.m. ET. A source also confirmed to MLB.com that he will not be making his Major League debut in Oakland. The exact date for Guerrero's arrival remains unknown, but it won't be this weekend vs. the A's.

"Whenever Bobby Meacham and Gil Kim say he's ready, he'll be here," Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said after Thursday's 7-4 victory over Minnesota. "I just don't know when that's going to happen. It could be any day. It could be a month."

Guerrero has appeared in five games for Buffalo so far this season and he's batting .412/.500/.824 with two home runs and six RBIs. His home run during Wednesday night's game was estimated at 441 feet, and it sailed into the parking lot beyond the left-field wall in Pawtucket.

The club's biggest issue is that Guerrero has yet to play three consecutive games after missing almost all of Spring Training with a strained left oblique muscle. Inclement weather has been one reason why, with Buffalo having been rained out on Monday and more precipitation scheduled this weekend.

According to local forecasts, Friday's weather in Buffalo is scheduled for 90 percent chance of rain. There's also 80 percent chance of rain for Saturday's doubleheader, which raises the possibility that Guerrero will not be able to get into any games this weekend. If that's the case, Toronto might want to keep Guerrero with the Bisons through at least part of a four-game series next week vs. Syracuse.

So while the Blue Jays are remaining tight-lipped about when Guerrero might arrive, at least on paper, it would seem like the earliest he will join them is April 26 for the start of a three-game series at home vs. the A's.

"We've talked about him a lot in the last week and probably are going to keep talking about him until he's up here,” assistant general manager Joe Sheehan said Wednesday night. “We've been talking about him a lot for a long time, and probably more so recently, and [we will] continue to hopefully talk to him about a lot in the future."