This week, I had the opportunity to talk to St. Lucie Mets’ Justin Guerrera and ask him a few questions.
Guerrera grew up in Watertown, Conn. In 2018, Guerrera committed to Fairfield University, located just 45 minutes from Watertown.
Guerrera shined at Fairfield. In his freshman year, Guerrera batted .278/.322/.398 while recording 67 hits in 59 games. That’s the second-most number of hits by a freshman in school history.
Unfortunately, Guerrera’s sophomore season was cut short due to COVID-19 and he only played 11 games.
While his sophomore season was short, Guerrera’s junior season was record-breaking. He batted .340/.409/.685 while hitting 13 homers and recording 45 RBI in 43 games. His 13 home runs tied a school record. Guerrera led Fairfield to the most wins in school history and the program’s first-ever appearance in the Top 25 rankings. His achievements earned him first-team All-MAAC.
Guerrera was selected in the 20th round by the New York Mets in the 2021 MLB draft. He started out with the FCL Mets, the Mets rookie ball team. Guerrera dominated, batting .410/.478/.641. After 11 games, Guerrera was moved up to the St. Lucie Mets (the Mets’ Low-A affiliate).
He has played for the St. Lucie Mets to start the 2022 season and posted a .259/.344/.370 slash line with 10 RBI through his first 15 games.
While Guerrera has a small frame, at 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds, he’s proven to have some serious pop on his bat. He has solid speed and is a good fielder as an infielder.
Guerrera is only 22. He has a lot of potential, and I look forward to seeing how his game progresses.
Here is the interview with New York Mets prospect Justin Guerrera
Q: You dominated at Fairfield. What was it like leading a team to a record-breaking year? How important was it for the program?
A: We had an incredible group at Fairfield and we all bought into winning. Being a part of that team was special and something I’ll never forget. From a program standpoint, it really helped put us on the map and let the rest of D-I baseball know that we belong and we will compete.
Q: Is it rewarding to be recognized after you dominated in the rookie league?
A: Being called up to Low-A in my first short season was an honor and I learned so much through the process. I was able to meet a bunch of new players and coaches that taught me a lot about the game. It was great to get moved up and be recognized.
Q: What do you have to overcome as a late-round pick?
A: Being a 20th-round pick, there are fewer expectations around my name. I’m an underdog in the eyes of most, but that doesn’t take away from me believing that I can play with anyone from the bottom all the way to the top of pro ball.
Q: Does it feel like you are on the track to making the Majors at your current pace? Or do you feel like you are going to need to prove yourself at every level?
A: I think I have to prove myself everywhere I go. The process is something I look forward to the most because I will learn so much about myself and the game. It will make achieving that goal of Major League Baseball even sweeter.
Q: What is the strongest part of your game?
A: I like to believe I’m a well-rounded player, but I think my bat definitely stands out. I think it is a lot of the reason why I’m in the position I’m in.
Thank you so much to Justin Guerrera for these fantastic responses. I encourage all fans to support MiLB and try to attend games because the talent there is truly remarkable.