Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is enjoying his first season with out Bo Bichette.
They each debuted with Toronto in 2019. Guerrero arrived on April 26 and Bichette adopted on July 29. They had been teammates by the 2025 season.
Bichette was very profitable with the Blue Jays. He batted .294 with 111 dwelling runs and 437 RBIs in seven seasons with Toronto.
However the 28-year-old grew to become a free agent after the 2025 season and signed with the New York Mets in January. Guerrero, 27, stayed.
He signed a 14-year, $500 million contract in April 2025. Bichette’s departure gave him greater duties. Shouldering them, he has not had a superb season this yr.
By Saturday’s sport, Guerrero is batting .262 with 9 dwelling runs and 56 RBIs.
He lately introduced that he has additionally struggled mentally at occasions and supervisor John Schneider has pulled him out of it.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Asks Schneider for Assist
Guerrero had 4 hits, together with a house run and 6 RBIs towards the Cleveland Guardians in early September. He nonetheless didn’t really feel proper, so he reached out to Schneider.
Guerrero mentioned he was annoyed as a result of nothing he tried was bettering his outcomes. The 2 talked for about 45 minutes.
“Typically we lie quite a bit, we are saying we’re good and we’re not good,” Guerrero defined to Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi. “If you happen to need assistance, simply ask for assist. I realized quite a bit about that this yr and the opposite day I advised him I simply need assistance and we talked for like 45 minutes in his workplace. After that, I felt reduction, as a result of I wanted to speak with anyone that may hear me, in addition to my household. I discuss with my household every single day, however generally you want different individuals to listen to you and really feel you. All the things’s been nice after that. My thoughts has been clear.”
Schneider advised Sportsnet he sees Guerrero’s troublesome season as an opportunity for one thing constructive to emerge.
“In watching Vlad undergo it, I attempt to use it as a possibility to make it possible for good can come out of it and to his credit score, he hasn’t budged,” Schneider mentioned. “The truth that he has posted, the truth that he’s continued to work together along with his teammates and do the issues that you just discover is a step in the proper path for him as a pacesetter of this workforce.”
Guerrero works laborious to satisfy his duties. His efforts haven’t gone unnoticed.
“He works his (expletive) off,” George Springer mentioned. “He’s right here late. He’s right here early. He’ll dissect every thing. I’m certain he want to have his regular season, however he reveals up every single day and he by no means will get down. He all the time seems like he’s the identical.”
Guerrero is certain to fill his function higher with time
Harm Updates and the Playoff Race
Toronto fell to 76-79. The Blue Jays are three video games behind the Chicago White Sox for the American League’s last wild-card berth.
They’ve seven video games left. It performs at Texas on Sunday and at Baltimore from Monday by Wednesday. It then hosts Cincinnati for 3 video games to shut the season.
The Blue Jays don’t maintain the head-to-head tiebreaker towards the White Sox or the Rangers.
Proper-hander Trey Yesavage will begin Monday at Baltimore after present process left knee surgical procedure in August. Schneider mentioned Yesavage ought to throw about three innings. Yesavage, 23, is 5-5 with a 3.65 ERA this season.
Proper-hander Shane Bieber, sidelined with proper teres main irritation, deliberate to throw off a mound Saturday. An everyday-season return is unlikely, however he’s increase in case Toronto reaches the postseason.
The Blue Jays might activate Anthony Santander on Monday if a Sunday rehab sport goes nicely.
Proper-hander Jameson Taillon mentioned Sept. 15 that his season is over due to an elbow damage. He’ll see Dr. Keith Meister on Sept. 22.
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