Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is coming off a year the Blue Jays would love to erase, and now Toronto may have a familiar face helping chart the comeback.
After his historic 2025 postseason run, Guerrero followed it with a rough 2026 season that was defined by a serious power drought. He finished with just nine home runs and 57 RBIs, marking what was arguably the worst offensive season of his career. His offseason laser eye surgery might help, but there’s another development that could matter just as much.
According to MLB insider Mike Rodríguez, Vladimir Guerrero Sr. is planning to work more closely with his son and with Wilton Guerrero on Vladdy’s hitting this season in an effort to get him back on track.
Vladimir Guerrero says he will work more closely with his son, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and his brother Wilton Guerrero on his hitting this season to help him have a better year. #BlueJays #Toronto #MLB #VladlimirGuerreroJr pic.twitter.com/fW5Kb1WdTn
- Mike Rodriguez (@mikedeportes) October 24, 2026
That kind of guidance could carry real weight. Guerrero Sr. brings a resume that speaks for itself: former MVP, nine-time All-Star, and eight-time Silver Slugger. Over 16 MLB seasons, he hit .300 or better in all but two years and finished with a career .931 OPS.
The power was there, too. Guerrero Sr. regularly averaged more than 30 home runs and 100 RBIs a season, and he never struck out more than 95 times in a single year during that stretch.
He also knew how to respond after rough patches. In 2004 with the Anaheim Angels, he bounced back from an injury-hit season by launching 39 homers and driving in 126 runs.
In 2009, what was viewed as a down year in his final season with the Angels still included 15 home runs and a .460 slugging percentage. Then, in 2010 with the Rangers, he answered with 29 home runs and a .300/.345/.496 line, good for a 119 wRC+.
For Toronto, that kind of perspective could be invaluable. Guerrero Jr. is expected to remain part of the Blue Jays organization for the next decade and beyond, so getting him back to form matters in a big way. If his father can help restore some confidence and life to his bat, the payoff could be huge.
The Blue Jays can’t afford another season like the one Guerrero Jr. just had. A .260/.332/.356 line with a 95 wRC+ won’t get it done. Toronto still has to build a stronger roster around him, but a major part of the team’s 2027 outlook may come down to how much Guerrero Jr. rebounds.
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