The Toronto Blue Jays have gone from American League champions and World Series runners-up in 2025 to one of baseball's biggest disappointments in 2026. After winning 94 games, capturing the AL East and coming within two outs of a championship last season, Toronto entered the final week of this season at 77-79 and on the verge of missing the postseason entirely.

And well, the lower back injury to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. may as well prove to be the final nail in the coffin for a difficult season. Guerrero Jr. exited the Blue Jays' 7-2 win over the Texas Rangers because of left lower back tightness.

According to manager John Schneider, Guerrero first felt discomfort while making a stretch play at first base several days earlier and was dealing with tightness before Sunday's game. Guerrero went 1-for-2 before leaving, recording a first-inning single and a comebacker to Jacob deGrom in the third inning.

“Just wanted to be careful and hopefully he's good for tomorrow,” Schneider said, per ESPN.

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Toronto removed him after the fourth inning as a precaution, with Kazuma Okamoto shifting from third base to first base as part of a series of defensive changes. Guerrero has appeared in 141 games this season and is batting .263 with nine home runs and 56 RBIs.

The first baseman entered the first season of his 14-year, $500 million contract carrying franchise-player expectations. Instead, he has produced the worst offensive season of his MLB career.
Guerrero has hit only nine home runs all season and just one at Rogers Centre despite playing home games in Toronto. For a player earning $40.2 million in 2026 and expected to anchor a championship-caliber lineup, the drop in production has significantly hampered the Blue Jays’ season.

Regardless, it remains to be seen whether Guerrero Jr. ends up recovering in time for the Blue Jays’ upcoming game against the Baltimore Orioles.