Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette grew up together in baseball, rising rapidly through the Blue Jays’ farm system and each debuting in the Majors in 2019.
Guerrero and Bichette also share the distinction of being sons of former Major League stars -- Vladimir Guerrero and Dante Bichette were slugging contemporaries in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Last fall, the pair led Toronto to its first World Series appearance in more than three decades in what became a seven-game thriller against the Dodgers, who won their second consecutive championship.
It was a beautiful partnership, but like so many good things, it had to come to an end someday.
That day came last month, when Bichette inked a three-year, $126 million deal with the Mets. On Thursday, MLB Network Radio caught up with Guerrero at Blue Jays camp in Dunedin, Fla., and asked him how he feels in his first Spring Training without Bichette.
“I mean, the first week was a little bit off,” Guerrero said, “because I had played with him since I was [18] years old. It was a little bit off, but you’ve gotta understand, this is business. To me, he wants the best for his family.
“ … When he signed with the Mets, I was a little bit sad, but I understand.”
During their time together in Toronto, Guerrero was named an All-Star five times, was runner-up to Shohei Ohtani in 2021 American League MVP voting, won a Gold Glove Award at first base and was named MVP of last year’s AL Championship Series against the Mariners.
Bichette, meanwhile, earned two All-Star selections and led the AL with 555 hits from 2021-23. He launched a memorable home run off Ohtani in Game 7 of last year’s World Series.
While he’s sad that Bichette has departed, it could create an opportunity for Guerrero to continue his maturation as one of the game’s greatest stars.
“If anything, it probably allows Vlad to have a bit of a louder voice,” said Blue Jays manager John Schneider. “I think it allows him to be a bit more free, because when you get so locked in with somebody day to day for eight, nine, 10 years, you just have that as a norm.
“I think this is an opportunity for Vlad to have a louder voice and really understand that this has been his team and it’s going to continue to be his team.”
As the Jays continue to push toward a World Series title after coming up two outs shy in 2025, Guerrero will lead a loaded roster that has been reinforced both in the lineup and the pitching staff. He’s used to being a leader for this squad, but moving forward, it will be different.
Whatever the future holds, Guerrero said Bichette will always be family.
“He’s still my brother,” Guerrero said. “It’s gonna be the same relationship no matter what, even if he’s on another team. Because we built a good relationship [off] the field, and when you build a good relationship like that, he’s gonna be my brother forever.”