When players and teams go through struggles, they often undertake changes in hopes of turning things around.
With the Blue Jays scuffling below .500 and having lost two straight games to the AL East rival Boston Red Sox, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. showed up for Wednesday’s batting practice with a drastically new look.
Gone were his trademark dreadlocks in favour of a much shorter hairdo.
A post by Sportsnet’s Hazel Mae with the caption “New phone.. who dis?” featured the Jays slugger without his trademark dreadlocks.
It seems like his Blue Jays teammates had no idea that Vladdy had an appointment with the barber.
In a reply to her post, Mae shared some reactions from onlookers at batting practice.
“Justin Turner called Vladdy, Carlos Santana (on his new look),” she wrote with Turner referencing another Dominican slugger.
“Edwin Encarnacion looked at Vladdy and said, ’Who’s that?’” she continued.
Fans on social media generally liked the new look.
“Love the hair!! Now, here comes a change of luck for the better,” one user replied on X.
“Thank god those dreads were looking horrible,” another posted.
While the Jays have struggled to gain momentum this season, Guerrero Jr. has been doing just fine.
Earlier this week it was revealed that he currently is the leading vote-getter among American League first basemen for this year’s all-star game.
At last year’s midsummer classic in Seattle, Vladdy captured the home run derby by hitting a total of 72 home runs over three rounds.
Heading in Wednesday’s series finale against the Red Sox at Rogers Centre, Guerrero led the team with a batting average of .280 and 30 RBIs. His seven homer runs ranks him third on the team behind Daulton Varsho and Davis Schneider.
Guerrero Jr. has rocked dreadlocks for his entire MLB career and was featured on the cover of video game MLB 2K24 this year with his signature look.