Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. receives failing grade

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Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. receives failing grade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Comparing Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz's first-half resume against Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is not fair.

Here's a brief look, entering Friday:

Statistic: Kurtz, Guerrero

• WAR: 3.7, 0.8
• Home runs: 19, 4
• Slugging percentage: .540, 363
• OPS+: 163, 98

Yet, when the AL All-Star Game Phase 1 voting concluded, Guerrero earned the opportunity to advance to Phase 2 and face New York Yankees' Ben Rice for the right to start the July 14 midsummer showcase in Philadelphia.

An All-Star starter four of the past five seasons, Guerrero collected 2,459,950 votes, followed by Rice's 1,280,614. Kurtz, who is one of two batters to register a .385 OBP and 20 RBI in June, finished fourth with 948,434 votes.

Apparently, national baseball fans continue to carry a better attitude toward Guerrero and his contract status than regional partisans.

Among MLB's highest-paid players, Guerrero received a D+ for his production and lineup presence.

Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. not grading out​

Scheduled to make 35.7 million this season, Guerrero opened the season by slashing .277/.360/.363 with 32 RBI and six stolen bases. During Friday's 5-4 loss to the Texas Rangers at Rogers Centre, he went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. He was scheduled to bat second against Rangers starter Cal Quantrill on Saturday.

Will Guerrero begin stacking production? Over the past half-decade, the second-generation star averaged more than 30 home runs and nearly 100 RBI. It's become his offensive floor. Except he earned the failing grade because of his first-half inconsistencies.

The two-time Silver Slugger award winner has collected back-to-back RBI outings only five times this season, twice before June 10.

Guerrero, signed to a $14-year, $500 million deal, will not be a free agent until 2040.

Kurtz, meanwhile, is playing on a one-year, $785,000 deal.

Value-wise, comparing Kurtz to Guerrero remains unfair.

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• 'Plunking king:' White Sox's Sam Antonacci taking beating at plate
• Marlins' Max Meyer discovers winning breaking-ball formula, remains unbeaten

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