After the Painful World Series Defeat, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Receives a Hero’s Welcome in Don Gregorio — David Ortiz’s Savage Reaction Toward the Yankees Ignites Fans
In the dusty streets of Don Gregorio, a small town nestled in the Dominican Republic’s Peravia province, the air crackled with unbridled joy last week as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. returned home. Just days after the Toronto Blue Jays fell to the New York Yankees in a grueling seven-game World Series showdown, the 26-year-old superstar first baseman was greeted not as a vanquished warrior, but as a conquering hero. Crowds lined the roads, waving Blue Jays flags and chanting “Vladdy! Vladdy!” in a parade that transformed the quiet village into a sea of blue and white. Children hoisted homemade signs, elders wiped tears from their eyes, and local musicians banged drums in a rhythm that echoed the crack of Guerrero’s bat during his playoff heroics. It was a poignant reminder that in baseball-mad nations like the Dominican Republic, which has produced over 700 major leaguers, the sport transcends wins and losses—it’s a lifeline of pride and possibility.
Guerrero’s journey back to Don Gregorio, where he spent much of his childhood under the care of his uncle Wilton while his Hall of Fame father, Vladimir Guerrero Sr., chased glory in the majors, felt like closing a circle. The younger Guerrero, who signed a landmark 15-year, $500 million extension with Toronto in April 2025, had carried the weight of a nation’s hopes into the Fall Classic. The Blue Jays, perennial underachievers in recent years, stormed through the postseason with Guerrero at the forefront. He slashed .397/.494/1.022 across 14 games, belting eight home runs and driving in 15 RBIs, including a towering three-run shot in Game 4 of the World Series that briefly silenced a raucous Yankee Stadium. His performance evoked memories of his father’s 2004 MVP season with the Anaheim Angels, blending raw power with a flair that made every at-bat must-see theater.
Yet, the series ended in heartbreak. The Yankees, powered by Aaron Judge’s thunderous bat and Gerrit Cole’s mound mastery, eked out a 4-3 victory in Game 7 on November 2 at Rogers Centre. Guerrero grounded into a double play in the ninth, stranding the tying run, and the final out—a routine fly ball misplayed into a walk-off double—left Toronto fans stunned. “It hurts like hell,” Guerrero admitted postgame, his voice thick with emotion. “But this team, this city, this country—they believed in us. We’ll be back.” Off the field, the defeat stung deeper for a player who grew up idolizing Dominican icons like Pedro Martinez, his godfather, and dreaming of lifting a Commissioner’s Trophy for the Jays, who last won it all in 1993.
The hero’s welcome in Don Gregorio, however, washed away the bitterness, at least for a moment. Videos flooded social media showing Guerrero atop a flatbed truck, tossing unused “2025 Toronto Blue Jays World Series Champions” T-shirts to ecstatic fans. He stopped at a local school to sign autographs, posed for selfies with grandparents who remembered his father’s early days, and even joined a pickup game with neighborhood kids, his 6-foot-2 frame dwarfing the pint-sized pitchers. “This is home,” he said in a brief interview with local reporters. “No matter what happens on the diamond, here I’m just Vladdy—the kid who used to steal mangos from the trees.” The outpouring of love extended beyond the parade; Guerrero’s family hosted a community feast, where plates of sancocho and fresh plantains were shared under strings of lights. Even in defeat, his .292 regular-season average, 23 homers, and Gold Glove-caliber defense had solidified his status as a generational talent, one who represents the Dominican’s unyielding spirit.
As news of Guerrero’s triumphant return spread, it collided with a parallel firestorm ignited by another Dominican legend: David Ortiz. The Boston Red Sox icon, known as “Big Papi” for his clutch postseason magic, unleashed a torrent of Yankees-bashing that had fans roaring from Fenway to the Caribbean. During Fox Sports’ broadcast of the World Series, Ortiz—seated alongside former Yankees stars Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter—could barely contain his glee as New York faltered. After the Jays’ Game 4 upset, where Guerrero’s homer turned the tide, Ortiz leaned into the microphone with a devilish grin: “Daaaaa Yankees lose!” His exaggerated imitation of Yankees radio announcer John Sterling’s iconic “Theeeee Yankees win!” call drew laughs from the studio and boos from Bronx faithful. But Ortiz wasn’t done. In Game 3, as the Yankees unraveled with defensive miscues, he quipped, “Are we at a funeral? The energy in that stadium is deader than my old batting average against Mariano Rivera.”
Ortiz’s barbs, laced with the sharp wit of a three-time World Series champion, tapped into a rivalry as old as the AL East itself. The 49-year-old, who retired in 2016 after torching New York for 17 career playoff homers, has made a second career of tormenting the pinstripes. “I love watching them lose—nothing makes me happier,” he declared during All-Star festivities earlier this year, prompting groans from Jeter and high-fives from Red Sox diehards. His latest salvo came via Instagram after Game 7, posting a photo of Guerrero’s parade with the caption: “Vladdy gets the love he deserves. Yankees? Straight to Cancun. Even Jesus couldn’t save ’em this time.” The post racked up over a million likes, with fans flooding replies: “Big Papi speaking facts!” and “From Boston with love—sorry, Vladdy, but that burn was worth it.”
The fusion of Guerrero’s heartfelt homecoming and Ortiz’s unfiltered shade created a viral moment that bridged generations and borders. On X (formerly Twitter), #VladdyHero and #DaYankeesLose trended worldwide, with memes blending parade footage and Ortiz’s cackles. Rodriguez, ever the good sport, fired back on air: “Papi, one day you’ll eat those words when we hoist another trophy.” But Ortiz just winked: “Keep dreaming, A-Rod. I’ll be here roasting.” For Guerrero, the noise was a balm. In a follow-up post from Don Gregorio, he shared a photo with Ortiz from an earlier broadcast, writing, “Mi hermano Papi always keeps it real. Grateful for the fight, the family, the fire. 2026, we’re champions.”
As the off-season looms, Guerrero’s return signals more than respite—it’s fuel. With his contract securing him in Toronto through 2039, the pressure mounts to deliver that elusive ring. Don Gregorio’s streets, still buzzing from the parade, whisper of unfinished business. In a sport where heartbreak often precedes glory, Guerrero’s hero’s welcome and Ortiz’s savage sparks remind us: Baseball isn’t just about the final score. It’s about the roar that follows, the rivalries that rage, and the unbreakable bonds that turn defeat into destiny. For now, in the heart of the Dominican, Vladdy is home—and the world is watching.
