Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is a full-time ball player and a part-time Asian.
Before the start of Saturday’s game between the Blue Jays and Angels in Dunedin, Florida, Guerrero cut him with Albert Pujols, another of the biggest baseball names even in his later years. After the pair punched and walked away, Guerrero returned – knowing that a teammate of his would like to be featured in the future Hall of Famer.
Guerrero pointed to Santiago Espinal and motioned for him. Pujols shook Espinal’s hand and slapped him firmly on the shoulder. Spinal gave an ear-to-ear smile.
The whole interaction lasted about 20 seconds, but it is clearly an experience that Espinal will never forget. Pujols, three-time winner of the National League MVP Award, is one of the greatest players to represent the Dominican Republic. And Espinal, just 27 games away from his MLB career, got his own special moment with his compatriot.
Come to think of it, Espinal had just been called up to the Blue Jays from the alternate training ground on Saturday afternoon. And until nightfall, he would shake hands with one of the great moderns of baseball.