Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays doubles in a run in the ninth inning during game two of a doubleheader baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at the Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 29, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
He’s still in Toronto, and he’s still producing.
A little over a month after winning World Baseball Network’s International MLB Player of the Week in late June, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has done it again, after going 15-for-27 over seven games with the Toronto Blue Jays, with six doubles, three homers, and nine RBIs.
When Guerrero Jr., born in Montreal but plays for the Dominican Republic in international competition, won weekly honors in June, there was talk of him possibly being dealt at the trade deadline. Guerrero is eligible for salary arbitration once more after his one-year, $19.9 million contract expires at the end of the season, and he hasn’t yet inked a deal that would keep him in Toronto.
Over the past week, the native of Montreal has had three multi-hit games, including a 4-for-5 performance in the Jays’ 8-4 win in the second game of a July 29 doubleheader at Baltimore, in which he hit three doubles, a home run, and drove in three runs.
On top of his terrific week, Guerrero has a 15-game hitting streak that dates back to July 14. During the streak, he has 26 hits in 52 at-bats, eight home runs, and 16 RBIs.
The Blue Jays went 4-3 over the past week behind Guerrero’s hot bat but are 13 1/2 games back of Baltimore in the American League East, having taken up residence in the cellar. At 51-59, the Jays are also ten games back of a wild card with 52 games left on the schedule. They have a lot of work to do.
But if Guerrero keeps hitting, the Jays could easily earn a wildcard spot.
The Blue Jays finish a seven-game road trip with games against the New York Yankees today and Sunday. Saturday and Sunday’s games will be nationally broadcast on MLB Network. They host Baltimore for a three-game set that begins Tuesday at Rogers Centre, with Tuesday and Wednesday’s games on MLB Network. The Oakland A’s go to Toronto for three games next weekend.
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