Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the Toronto Blue Jays’ six-time All-Star first baseman, reportedly underwent laser eye surgery following what was easily the worst season of his MLB career in 2026. This move comes as a big step, with the 27-year-old slugger hoping to bounce back from a campaign where his numbers simply cratered. The Laser Eye Center of Miami even posted about the procedure, performed by Dr. Gabriel Lazcano, saying they are “Looking forward to an MVP year and lots of home runs with his new vision.”
The 2026 Slide: From MVP Caliber to Rock Bottom
It’s tough to look at Vladdy Jr.’s 2026 stats without a wince. After finishing second in AL MVP voting in 2021 with an insane 48 homers, 121 RBI, and a .311/.401/.601 slash line, his production has been steadily declining. He averaged 28 dingers in the four seasons since that monster 2021 campaign. But 2026? That was something else. He put up a measly 9 home runs, 25 doubles, and 57 RBI with a .260/.332/.356 slash line across 144 games. That was his fewest games since the COVID-shortened 2020 season, partly due to a concussion and lower back tightness late in the year. And get this: he didn’t even hit a home run in his own ballpark, Rogers Centre, until mid-September. That’s a stunning development in a stadium consistently ranked among the top 10 most home run-friendly parks in the league. Talk about a brutal year.
The $500 Million Contract and The Controversial Quote
Vladdy Jr.’s struggles on the field didn’t exactly earn him a ton of sympathy, especially when you consider his massive 14-year, $500 million contract extension. He actually responded to criticism that he wasn’t living up to those expectations with a jaw-dropping comment to Veronica Batista of Noticias Telemicro, saying, “The money they gave me wasn’t for what I’m going to do. It was for what I already did.” Yeah, you read that right. He later had to apologize for those remarks, apparently after his Hall of Fame father, Vladimir Guerrero, told him he’d messed up. It’s known that Guerrero Jr. has dealt with vision issues before, wearing contact lenses while playing and eyeglasses off the field, according to The Athletic. But the deep dive in his numbers this season obviously pushed him to address the problem head-on.
Eyes on 2027: Can Vladdy Jr. Really See an MVP Year?
So, with new eyes and a fresh outlook, all the pressure is on Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for the 2027 season. Will correcting his vision be the secret sauce that gets him back to that MVP-caliber form? The Blue Jays and their fan base are absolutely hanging on that hope, desperately wanting to see the superstar they shelled out $500 million for. It’s a huge storyline heading into next year.
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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