Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is making a remarkable impact in his first postseason since signing a staggering 14-year, $500 million extension with the Toronto Blue Jays. The 26-year-old power hitter has propelled the Blue Jays to the brink of their first World Series appearance since 1993. During Game 6 of the American League Championship Series (ALCS) against the Seattle Mariners, Guerrero showcased his postseason prowess by hitting his third home run of the series and sixth overall in the playoffs, helping the Blue Jays fend off elimination with a decisive 5-0 victory.
Although Guerrero faced challenges early in the game, managing only a groundout and a hard-hit ball that was snagged by the Mariners’ third baseman, he found his stride in the fifth inning. With the Blue Jays leading 4-0, Guerrero launched a curveball off Logan Gilbert for a towering 384-foot homer to left field, extending Toronto’s lead and igniting the crowd.
His contributions did not stop there. Guerrero demonstrated sharp baserunning intelligence when he advanced to third base on a wild pitch and scored following an errant throw from the catcher, visibly energizing his teammates and the fans alike. Even in his final at-bat, Guerrero managed to crank out a single, despite shattering his bat, showcasing his ability to find a way to keep the offense rolling.
Throughout the ALCS, Guerrero has been on fire, boasting an impressive line of .409/.519/.955 with three doubles to complement his home runs across 27 plate appearances. His performance during the Division Series against the New York Yankees was equally stellar, hitting .529/.550/1.059, driving in seven runs in that series alone.
Although the Mariners successfully contained Guerrero in the first two games of the ALCS — where he finished without a hit in seven at-bats — he quickly turned the tide in Game 3 with a standout 4-for-4 performance, showcasing his ability to respond to adversity. Despite a brief struggle in Game 5, where he was intentionally walked twice, Guerrero’s overall postseason stats position him among the best in recent history.
Guerrero’s remarkable postseason play places him in elite company, ranking second in postseason weighted runs created plus (wRC+) since 1969, just behind Rickey Henderson. His performance eclipses even legends like José Bautista and Paul Molitor in Blue Jays history, and continues to impress baseball fans and analysts alike.
The postseason resurgence follows a regular season where Guerrero showed glimpses of brilliance, albeit with a lower overall performance than in earlier years. Ending the regular season in a slump, Guerrero has bounced back powerfully in October, demonstrating a refined approach at the plate and capitalizing on opportunities. This resurgence has involved improved selectivity and an increase in hard-hit balls, as detailed by his Statcast profile.
As the Blue Jays stand one victory away from securing their place in the World Series, Guerrero’s electrifying play offers fans a sense of optimism. Regardless of the series outcome, the performance of their talented slugger has reaffirmed the team’s decision to invest significantly in him, marking Guerrero as a centerpiece for the Blue Jays’ future aspirations.