91ST MLB ALL-STAR GAME

July 13, 2021

Vladimir Guerrero

Coors Field

Press Conference

AL - 5, NL - 2

Q. How does it feel to win the MVP?

VLADIMIR GUERRERO, JR.: No, I felt good because all the work that I've been doing since the off-season, I'm okay right now. I'm feeling very great and hopefully the rest of the season I'll be all right.

Q. Before you used to come to the All-Star Game with your dad, and now it's your turn. How does that feel?

VLADIMIR GUERRERO, JR.: Well, I'm feeling pretty good right now, and he's starting to be the fan. Now I'm going to be the one on the field and I'm feeling good.

Q. Do you have many specific memories of going to the All-Star Game with your dad?

VLADIMIR GUERRERO, JR.: I'll say the only thing is the Home Run Derby in 2007.

Q. And also, you're having such a great season. Have you allowed yourself to think about the Triple Crown or maybe the season MVP?

VLADIMIR GUERRERO, JR.: You know, I don't think like that so much. You don't know, it could be ups and down, but I don't want to think about that. I just want to continue to keep working hard and we'll see what happens.

Q. You are the youngest player to be the MVP in the All-Star Game, and what do you think about that, and have you already had a message from your dad on your phone?

VLADIMIR GUERRERO, JR.: I mean, dreams come true. Since I was a kid, I was thinking about this moment. I worked all my life very hard, and thank God it's happening right now.

No, I haven't checked the phone yet.

Q. You're the eighth Dominican to win the MVP. How do you feel about that and also, how do you feel to get the MVP over Ohtani?

VLADIMIR GUERRERO, JR.: Actually, I picked him to win the MVP, Ohtani. But, I mean, thank God it happens the other way and it was me and I'm very happy about that.

Q. When you hit that line drive that nearly hit Scherzer and then you circled back to give him a hug, what were you thinking and why did you want to go and have that interaction with Scherzer there?

VLADIMIR GUERRERO, JR.: We had a conversation and he was just joking with me, said, "Hey, take it easy with me tomorrow." That's what he told me. And then after the line drive, I just wanted to give him a hug.

Q. Like when you were playing first, and you hit the fly ball and you said something to him. The other way, too, when he was doing something, the transmission on TV and he said something to you I guess when he hit the homer.

VLADIMIR GUERRERO, JR.: When he hit the fly ball to left, I told him, hey, you just missed that one. And when I -- when I hit the homer, he just told me that I should have stood at the plate a little bit longer.

Q. Regarding your home run, what were you thinking as you were rounding the bases? What were you doing? What was the -- I don't know if you were sending a message. What were you doing, pointing?

VLADIMIR GUERRERO, JR.: Basically -- basically I just point out because God is the winner of all this and I just want to be thankful to Him.

Q. How did you decide to use the glove that you used tonight and where did you get that made?

VLADIMIR GUERRERO, JR.: It will bring back memories, very good memories, and that was a gift for me and I just decided to bring it.

Q. Who gave it to you?

VLADIMIR GUERRERO, JR.: It's one of the brothers of one of our coaches. He does some glove, handmade glove.

Q. What's the thing that impressed you most from Shohei Ohtani?

VLADIMIR GUERRERO, JR.: Yeah, he's out of this world. He's not from here. He's unbelievable. I don't even know what to say. Unbelievable. He hits, pitch, everything.

Q. You got two awards tonight, top vote-getter and the MVP. Does one of those mean any more than the other to you?

VLADIMIR GUERRERO, JR.: I mean, they both mean the same to me. I mean, it's great. It's an unbelievable feeling. Of course, I've got to thank the fans for voting me in. That's a great feeling.

But you know when you play in this game, you really want to be the MVP, they're both right there.

Q. As a relatively young player at a time when baseball and its players are standing up on social issues and racial issues, what did it mean to you to be part of the Hank Aaron tribute at the beginning of the game?

VLADIMIR GUERRERO, JR.: It feels great. It feels great to win the MVP on a game that it was an honor of Hank Aaron. It's just unbelievable and I'm very happy.

Q. Considering all the things that you have been through personally over the past year and a half, the things that your team has been through over the past year and a half, to have a game like this on a national stage to showcase what you can do to get the recognition, how are you feeling about that and being able to deliver in this moment?

VLADIMIR GUERRERO, JR.: Well, I've got to say this, I can't wait to get back to hear what Gurriel and Springer have to say about this. Right before I left, I made a promise to them that I was going to be -- that I was going to win the MVP and they said, "You'd better win the MVP. If you don't, don't come here."