Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has a strong personal and family-related grudge against the New York Yankees, which fuels his hatred for the team. He has stated publicly that he will never play for the Yankees, emphasizing that it is a personal decision linked to his family. This animosity reportedly stems from an incident involving his Hall of Fame father, Vladimir Guerrero Sr. After the 2003 season, the Yankees nearly signed his father as a free agent, but team owner George Steinbrenner ultimately blocked the deal, opting to sign another player instead. Guerrero Jr. has said this family history shapes his sentiments, and he actively enjoys competing against the Yankees on the field, even expressing enjoyment in "killing the Yankees" with his performance.
On the field, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been a dominant force against the Yankees, hitting multiple home runs and achieving exceptional batting stats in regular season and postseason games against them. This competitive success further intensifies the rivalry from his perspective, making it clear he channels his personal feelings into his gameplay whenever facing the Yankees.
In summary, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s hatred for the Yankees is rooted in a family-related grievance stemming from his father’s near-signing and subsequent snub by the Yankees, amplified by their ongoing on-field rivalry where Guerrero Jr. takes particular joy in performing well against this team.
