The Toronto Blue Jays enter the second half of the season facing an uphill climb in the American League playoff race, making every game critical as the team heads toward a critical trade deadline without a clear direction.
And that makes any update surrounding franchise cornerstone Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who has struggled through the campaign so far, especially significant.
While Guerrero’s offensive production has fallen well below expectations through the season’s opening months, questions have lingered about how much a lingering back issue has contributed to his struggles. And now the Blue Jays slugger has offered a positive update as the club begins its push after the All-Star break.
Toronto Blue Jays Superstar Vladimir Guerrero Jr Offers Encouraging Health Update
Speaking after the break, Guerrero suggested that his back is improving but made it clear he isn’t taking anything for granted.
“It feels better right now, but I’m not going to stop doing all my treatment, rehab, recovery,” Guerrero said of his back through a translator, according to The Athletic’s Mitch Bannon. “I’m going to make sure my back feels okay for me to continue to have a good second half.”
That update is likely welcome news for a Blue Jays club that needs its franchise player producing at his usual level, though the star first baseman is not ready to say he is completely healed. Guerrero has continued playing through the discomfort, but the organization clearly hopes ongoing treatment can allow him to finish the season closer to full strength.
Toronto Blue Jays Hoping For Vladimir Guerrero Jr Turnaround
As a newly minted $500 million franchise superstar, Guerrero is still just 27 years old and many of the underlying skills that have defined his career — including elite bat speed, strong plate discipline and excellent contact skills — have largely remained intact. Though he has slashed just .262/.345/.356 on the year, he was named an All-Star.
But Guerrero’s lack of production has become one of the biggest storylines of Toronto’s season because they stand in such sharp contrast to his established track record.
“Several explanations have been offered for this power outage, none of which seem provable. Maybe the weight of expectations is too much,” Nick Ashbourne wrote for Sportsnet. “Perhaps the absence of Bo Bichette, or just other reliable producers, has a tangible effect. The mental load of Guerrero’s slump may have given it self-perpetuating properties. The difficulty he’s had with his back may have been understated for most of the season.”
If his back continues responding to treatment, the Blue Jays could still get the version of Guerrero that has been one of baseball’s most dangerous hitters. For a team fighting to stay in the postseason picture, that may ultimately determine whether Toronto can mount a legitimate second-half surge.