We’re 41 games into the 2025-26 MLB season, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. remains stuck on just two home runs.
After three straight years of relatively underwhelming power numbers, for his standards, the Toronto Blue Jays superstar put his team on his back during last year’s epic postseason run. That not only proved what Guerrero Jr. was capable of but heightened expectations for 2026 and beyond.
However, instead of rekindling that playoff magic, it’s been a struggle at the plate for Guerrero Jr., and despite his strong batting average, the Blue Jays need a lot more from their $500 million man.
TSN analyst Bryan Hayes implored that after Toronto’s 8-5 loss to Tampa Bay on Monday night:
“Vladdy Guerrero is in a very dark place. You know, he was 0 for 4 again tonight, 0 for 4 yesterday. He doesn’t have any extra-base hits in a long time. He doesn’t have a home run in almost a month. I mean, he’s got single-digit extra-base hits and we’re 41 games into the season. He’s been healthy. Vladdy’s been healthy, Vladdy’s been playing every single day and he’s in an incredibly dark place. I mean he’s nowhere close to breaking out and it’s gotta happen sooner than later because of the win-loss record…. Vladdy’s in his prime, Vladdy’s their best player, and they need offensive production—he’s got to supply it,”
The 27-year-old Guerrero Jr. is hitting .300 with two home runs and 17 RBI to boot through 41 games played this season. He’s in year one of the 14-year, $500 million extension he signed with the Blue Jays last April.
For comparison, league leaders Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber are already up to 16 home runs on the campaign, while Guerrero Jr. is currently pacing for just eight on the season—though there is still plenty of runway left to improve on that.
Injuries and inconsistencies throughout the rest of the lineup haven’t helped Guerrero Jr., but superstar bats are supposed to produce no matter the circumstances. As Hayes said, Toronto is going to need its superstar to snap out of it sooner rather than later if it wants to make the postseason again in 2026.
Next: Trouble Brewing in Philadelphia? Joel Embiid Not Thrilled with Front Office
