Receiving $500 million for just 9 home runs... "That's money I earned from my past performance." U.S. reacts furiously to former teammate of Ryu Hyun-jin's remarks

*This content was translated by AI.

"That's money I earned because I performed well in the past."

Baseball circles are stirred by a single comment from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27, Toronto Blue Jays), former teammate of Ryu Hyun-jin (39, Hanwha Eagles). The controversy has intensified as this year marks the first season of his record-breaking 14-year, $500 million (approximately 683.4 billion won) contract, during which he hit only 9 home runs.

Canadian sports media outlet Sportsnet reported on the 24th (Korean time) that "segments of Guerrero's interview video spread rapidly on social media, triggering strong reactions."

The controversial remarks came from a Spanish-language interview between Guerrero Jr. and Dominican Republic-born broadcaster Veronica Batista. While the full interview is scheduled for release next month, portions of the preview video were released earlier.

In the video, when asked about his poor performance and the $500 million contract, Guerrero Jr. said in essence, "I hope people understand one thing: The money I received was not for what I will do in the future, but for what I have already accomplished." He further emphasized, "I did not receive money to hit 40 home runs every year."

Regarding fan reactions, he used somewhat harsh language, stating, "When I perform well, everyone supports me, but when I struggle, they don't." The remarks were received even more sensitively due to his performance this season. As of the 24th, Guerrero Jr. had played in 142 games with a batting average of .263 (533 at-bats, 140 hits), 9 home runs, 56 RBIs, 71 runs scored, an on-base percentage of .335, a slugging percentage of .360, and an OPS of .695. This was the performance in the first year of the longest contract in Major League Baseball history signed last year.

To make matters worse, on the day the video was released, Toronto lost 2-4 to the Baltimore Orioles, officially eliminating them from playoff contention. The backlash was even greater given that these remarks came while the team's star player endured a career-worst season.

Controversy spread quickly in the United States as well. Bleacher Report and Yahoo Sports reported that "Guerrero Jr.'s comments explaining his massive contract amid poor performance in the first year of his deal have drawn significant attention." Furthermore, counterarguments followed, stating that while long-term contracts are determined based on past achievements, teams ultimately invest money expecting future productivity over the contract period.

Sportsnet criticized, "Guerrero Jr. may have meant to convey that he proved his eligibility for the contract through past performance, but expressing it this way during a struggling season like this is clearly an own goal."

However, Guerrero Jr. did not retract his remarks. After finishing the Baltimore game on the 24th, he stood before reporters again and reaffirmed his stance in essence: "I do not regret what I said. I did not lie." At the same time, he acknowledged his poor performance this season, stating, "I feel a great responsibility. I should have produced better records to help the team win."

In subsequent explanations, he also revealed significant pressure regarding his massive contract. Guerrero Jr. admitted, "Every time I fail at the plate, I think about my $500 million contract. This is because I know fans come to the ballpark expecting to see me succeed after paying for tickets."

Sportsnet also noted that the original intent of Guerrero's remarks was likely not "I received money, so I've done my job," but rather that he earned the right to receive the contract through his past achievements.

John Schneider, Toronto Blue Jays manager, wrapped up his comments on Guerrero Jr. Manager Schneider emphasized, "The Vladimir Guerrero Jr. I know is absolutely not a player who thinks 'I got $500 million, so now I'm done.' He is a player who works hard consistently and will continue to strive for a rebound next season."

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*This content was translated by AI.