Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has solidified himself as one of the elite hitters in MLB.
However, even baseball’s best are humbled on occasion.
With the Blue Jays leading 10-1 in the eighth inning against the Rays on Tuesday night, Toronto’s star slugger found himself batting against a position player due to the lopsided score. Guerrero had to be salivating at the opportunity.
Instead, after working a 1-2 count, Rays outfielder Luke Raley shocked Guerrero and lofted a 50-mph curveball. The two-time All-Star swung hard and whiffed for the strikeout.
As Guerrero walked back to the dugout, even he had to laugh at himself. What is even funnier was the way Raley ducked in anticipation of the pitch getting clobbered.
Luke Raley bamboozles Vladimir Guerrero Jr. with a 50 mph curveball...
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) May 24, 2023
... and ducks out of the way just in case 😅 pic.twitter.com/VxBInVnuaH
After the game, Raley admitted in an interview with Bally Sports Sun that he was “scared” heading into the second pitching appearance of his major league career.
“I got rocked in high school so I can’t imagine what these guys would do to me if I tried to pitch,” Raley said. “I just tried to lob it over the plate and save our bullpen.”
Guerrero got even in the ninth inning, though. With Raley still pitching and the bases loaded, the Blue Jays star launched a long home run to left field.
That one was not a strikeout 😬 pic.twitter.com/zNeWVEDtPB
— Bally Sports Sun: Rays (@BallyRays) May 24, 2023
The Jays went on to win, 20-1, sending the Rays to the showers with their most lopsided defeat in franchise history. Raley dutifully pitched 1 2/3 innings, allowing seven earned runs on eight hits.
