The Toronto Blue Jays enter the second half of the season in unfamiliar territory. At 45-51, Toronto holds the sole position in last place in the American League East, 12 games back of the first-place Tampa Bay Rays and 2 1/2 games out of the final AL Wild Card spot. One player trying to help turn that around is first basemanVladimir Guerrero Jr.
Guerrero is now in the middle of his eighth big league season, all with Toronto. The five-time All-Star signed a 14-year, $500 million extension last spring, all but guaranteeing he will be the face of the franchise for the rest of his career.
Offensively, 2026 has been a season of ups and downs.
Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
The 27-year-old started the season with a lack of power but still put up a decent batting average that hovered around .280 to .300. Now, Guerrero is batting .262 with six home runs and 41 RBIs. After posting a .498 OPS in June while dealing with lower back tightness, Guerrero has rebounded to a .773 OPS in July, a sign that he may be returning to form as Toronto tries to salvage its season.
Away from the field, Guerrero is looking toward the next generation. He announced on Instagram that he is hosting a couple of youth baseball camps in partnership with FlexWork Sports Management. The first camp is scheduled for July 30 in Hamilton, Ontario, the first of two Ontario stops this summer, with a second camp set for August 24 in Toronto's North York neighborhood.
Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Guerrero and the Blue Jays open the second half at home against the Chicago White Sox, followed by a series against the AL East-best Tampa Bay before heading to Boston. With a trade deadline looming just weeks away on August 3, the next few weeks will go a long way toward determining whether Toronto can climb back into the postseason picture.
