Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s solo home run on Friday night became another exhibit of the 26-year-old’s success at Yankee Stadium. That home run was his 15th career home run at the famed stadium, the most that he has hit at an opposing ballpark, with the next value being the 10 he currently has at Fenway Park in Boston.

Guerrero, who made his major league debut six years ago yesterday, owns a .289/.355/.621 slash line with a .976 OPS, 27 RBIs, 10 doubles, and 11 walks through 43 games at Yankee Stadium. Sure, he benefits from the Yankees being a divisional opponent, hence the Jays will play them more than most other MLB teams. Nonetheless, the Yankees represent one of the most successful franchises in MLB history, and Guerrero. has risen to the occasion during his games at their ballpark.

As fun as it is to poke at the Yankees, this isn’t meant to be a “Vladdy owns the Yankees” article; it’s not like his career numbers at Yankee Stadium are otherworldly. Instead, his success in the Bronx has sparked somewhat of a rivalry between Guerrero and the Bronx Bombers, and it’s part of what will make this recurring matchup a fun one to watch. The boos are on track to last for another 14 years. Blue Jays fans – and Yankees fans, to an extent – should enjoy that.

One of his most notable accomplishments at Yankee Stadium was his three-homer game on April 13th, 2022, marking the second consecutive season that Guerrero had hit three home runs in a game. The first two home runs were hit off of Yankees ace Gerrit Cole, with the slugger becoming just the fourth hitter to take Cole deep twice in the same game at that point.

Making that feat more impressive, Guerrero had his right hand stepped on by Aaron Hicks while fielding a throw from Bo Bichette in the 2nd inning. After getting the blood cleaned up, the Montreal product. elected to stay in the game, and proceeded to hit two more home runs and a double after the fact. The double was also against Cole, who tipped his cap to Guerrero after he poked a 98 mph fastball down the right field line. After the game, Cole was asked by reporters about the cap tip, and he replied with, “Yeah. Did you see the night? If you had a cap, you’d tip it too.”

It didn’t matter which aspect of the night you chose; it was an MVP-like performance from Guerrero. YES Network’s Yankees colour commentator Paul O’Neill said it best after Guerrero’s third home run, simply stating, “Some people are just better than others, and you’re seeing one right here.”

Although they weren’t in the same game, Guerrero hit three home runs in a four-game sweep of the Yankees in the Bronx in early September of 2021. The sweep brought Toronto’s winning streak to eight straight games, and they also moved to a half game back of a Wild Card spot, which was still a one-game playoff at the time. The Blue Jays hit 11 home runs in that series, and the boos got louder and louder as each one left the park.

One of the home runs that Guerrero hit from that series was against Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman, who had allowed just nine home runs in 61 appearances that season.

Guerrero stirred up some controversy during the offseason before the 2023 campaign, stating in an interview with Dotol Nastra that he would never play for the Yankees, not even dead. Before the first meeting between the two teams in April of 2023, Guerrero was asked about those comments, and he mentioned that it was a personal matter that included his family. Naturally, he was booed as he stepped to the plate for his first at-bat of the series, and he responded with a two-run home run to left-centre field.

Guerrero also homered two days later in the series finale against Clarke Schmidt to break a scoreless tie. The boos as he was rounding the bases got even louder, especially once he did his usual hop between second and third base.

Despite what Guerrero had said about the Yankees previously, they appeared to be a potential player in his upcoming free agency if he got to that point. They would have a vacancy at first base, and they’d have the money to support the contract. However, we all know how that ended up, and Guerrero made sure to rub it in to Yankees fans with his home run the other night.

Both Guerrero and Blue Jays manager John Schneider have made similar comments about how Yankees fans don’t boo just anyone. His home run trot, his hushing motion while rounding third base, and the fact that he simply dons another team’s jersey will never sit well with Yankees fans at Yankee Stadium. It shouldn’t, and that’s what will make these series so fun to watch for the next 14 years.

All Toronto Blue Jays odds are brought to you by MLB betting site Betway!