Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is hitting the offseason running, or rather, seeing clearly. The Toronto Blue Jays first baseman, fresh off what’s being called the worst season of his MLB career, reportedly just underwent laser eye surgery in Miami, a huge move he hopes will kickstart an MVP comeback. The Laser Eye Center of Miami even posted about it on Instagram, eyeing an “MVP year and lots of home runs with his new vision” for the 27-year-old slugger. If that’s not high stakes, I don’t know what is for a guy on a 14-year, $500 million contract.
From MVP Runner-Up to a Career-Worst Crash
This isn’t just about a guy having a bad year. This is about a six-time All-Star, a guy who finished second in American League MVP voting back in 2021 after absolutely mashing 48 homers and driving in 121 RBI with a insane .311/.401/.601 slash line. Blue Jays fans saw that and thought they had a generational talent for life. But since that 2021 season, his numbers have steadily slipped. He was still averaging 28 homers over the four years after his MVP runner-up campaign, which is solid, right?
But this season? Yikes. His performance cratered, big time. We’re talking just 9 home runs, 25 doubles, 57 RBI, and a meager .260/.332/.356 slash line across 144 games. That’s his fewest games since the COVID-shortened 2020 season, partly due to some concussion and lower back tightness that limited him late in the year. And get this: Vladdy Jr. didn’t even hit a home run in his own ballpark, Rogers Centre, until mid-September! Rogers Centre is ranked among the top 10 most home run-friendly ballparks in MLB, according to Park Factors. That’s a stunning development for a power hitter of his caliber, or what his caliber used to be.
Facing the Fire: Contract Talk and a Father’s Advice
Now, here’s where things got really spicy. Amidst all these struggles, Guerrero Jr. wasn’t exactly winning over the fanbase with his comments. When asked about not living up to the expectations set by his massive 14-year, $500 million contract extension, he had a wild response. “The money they gave me wasn’t for what I’m going to do. It was for what I already did,” Guerrero said in an interview. Yeah, you read that right. Talk about not endearing yourself to the faithful!
He did eventually apologize for those remarks, apparently prompted by his Hall of Famer father, Vladimir Guerrero, who told him he made a mistake. It turns out vision issues aren’t new for him, either. He’s reportedly worn contact lenses while playing and eyeglasses off the field for a while. But after such a deep, undeniable drop in his numbers this season, it’s clear he was seriously motivated to tackle the problem head-on. Whether the Blue Jays front office had a “friendly chat” with him about it isn’t certain, but you gotta wonder.
So, here we are. It’s early offseason, and one of the biggest names in baseball just had surgery to get his vision right. After a season where his performance took a nosedive and his comments caused a stir, the stakes for Guerrero Jr. to regain his MVP-caliber form next year are absolutely sky-high. Blue Jays fans will be watching with bated breath to see if this laser eye surgery truly brings back the Vladdy who once terrorized pitchers. Get ready, baseball, because 2027 could be a wild ride for Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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