Blue Jays Get Harsh Vladimir Guerrero Jr Reminder After Injury Setback

Aug 18, 2026 05:30 PM - 1 hour ago 2

The Toronto Blue Jays are hoping Vladimir Guerrero Jr. tin return from the concussion protocol not conscionable healthy, but pinch a chance to regain the superstar shape that earned him a monolithic hold earlier the play began.

Guerrero was placed connected the seven-day concussion injured database connected Saturday aft a concerning incident connected the gem against the New York Yankees.

“Following a collision astatine 3rd guidelines Friday and consequent concussion protocol testing, the Toronto Blue Jays person placed Vladimir Guerrero Jr. connected the 7-day concussion IL,” Johnny Flores Jr. and Mitch Bannon reported for The Athletic. “Guerrero must advancement done MLB’s return-to-play protocols earlier rejoining Toronto, leaving an opening astatine first guidelines for the Jays.”

The timing is frustrating for Toronto, which needs its franchise cornerstone patient and productive arsenic it continues its push toward October. But the bigger interest is what Guerrero's absence intends for an discourtesy that has not received the superstar accumulation it expected from him this season.

That reality became moreover harder to disregard Monday.

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Guerrero's wounded came arsenic he reached a milestone that nary Blue Jays instrumentality would person expected erstwhile the play began.

“Today is the one-year day of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s past regular play location tally astatine Rogers Centre,” MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson reported connected Monday, on pinch a video of Guerrero’s sixth-inning longball against the Texas Rangers past year. “He's made 333 sheet appearances astatine location since this swing.”

That drought unsocial would beryllium singular for immoderate established slugger. But it is moreover much striking for Guerrero, who has agelong been viewed arsenic 1 of the game's astir vulnerable and accordant powerfulness hitters and has spent his full profession playing his location games successful Toronto.

For a subordinate whose profession has included aggregate seasons pinch 30-plus location runs, going an full twelvemonth betwixt regular-season homers astatine Rogers Centre is simply a startling development.

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Despite trading disconnected immoderate seasoned pieces astatine the waste and acquisition deadline, the Blue Jays person hung onto playoff hopes. And Guerrero’s ongoing struggles this play raised the anticipation that the squad tin dress up immoderate crushed successful the chaotic paper title moreover without him.

“Replacing his violative production, though, whitethorn not beryllium arsenic difficult arsenic it would’ve been successful different years,” Flores and Bannon added. “Guerrero is successful the midst of his worst master season, hitting conscionable 7 homers successful 115 games pinch a .693 OPS. He’s gone complete a twelvemonth without hitting a regular play location tally astatine Rogers Centre.”

But while the Blue Jays tin apt past a short absence from their franchise slugger, the squad will surely request him to return patient and effective if it hopes of making different tally astatine the World Series.

The concussion takes priority, and Guerrero should not beryllium rushed backmost earlier he is afloat cleared. But erstwhile he returns, Toronto will request much from him than it has received for overmuch of 2026.

The Rogers Centre drought is now intolerable to overlook. A patient Guerrero still has clip to alteration that narrative, but the Blue Jays are moving retired of reasons to expect the aged type of their superstar to simply reappear.