Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Launches 3 Home Runs, Powers Blue Jays to Crucial Victory—Watch the Must-See Highlights

TORONTO — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is owning October. The Toronto Blue Jays slugger has battered opposing pitching to the tune of a .529 average, three homers and nine RBIs through the AL Division Series, powering Toronto past the New York Yankees and into a highly anticipated ALCS matchup. Clutch numbers that echo legends Guerrero’s 1.789 OPS in the five-game set is the highest by a Blue Jay in any postseason series, surpassing Joe Carter’s mark from 1993. The performance has drawn comparisons to David Ortiz’s 2004 run and Ken Griffey Jr.’s 1995 surge, two playoff tears that became franchise lore. A father-son legacy continues The 26-year-old is already part of history: he and Hall of Fame dad Vladimir Guerrero Sr. are the first father-son duo to collect 20+ postseason RBIs apiece. The elder Guerrero reached the 20-RBI plateau in 44 playoff games; Jr. needed just 24, underscoring how quickly the second-generation star is matching — and in some areas eclipsing — his father’s résumé. Moment of controversy at Yankee Stadium Game 4 wasn’t all celebration. Late in the ninth inning, a can was hurled toward Guerrero’s family members seated near the first-base line, an incident captured on cellphone video and now under MLB investigation. Yankee Stadium security ejected several fans, and the Yankees issued an apology statement the following morning. Guerrero downplayed the distraction afterward — “my focus is on winning the series” — yet teammates said privately the episode fueled his two-run homer an inning later that effectively iced the game. Why the breakout is different this time 1. Plate discipline surge: Guerrero chased just 17 % of pitches out of the zone in the ALDS, down from 28 % during the regular season. 2. Lifted launch angle: His average launch angle jumped to 14.6°, nearly double his 7.8° season average, unlocking opposite-field power that produced two of his three homers. 3. Health finally intact: Guerrero played through knee tendinitis for much of July and August; a late-September cortisone shot and built-in rest days restored full lower-body explosiveness, according to team trainers. Contract questions postponed — for now Talks on a long-term extension north of $500 million stalled in March, but both sides agreed to revisit negotiations after the season. Guerrero can become a free agent after 2026, and rivals have already whispered that the Blue Jays could command a Soto-level trade package if they pivot this winter. Club president Mark Shapiro dismissed the idea Tuesday: “We’re focused on finishing the job.” Scouting the ALCS matchup Toronto awaits either Houston or Minnesota, both vulnerable to high-velocity sinkers — Guerrero’s favorite offering to ambush. The Blue Jays enter with the second-highest postseason OPS (.893) and the lowest bullpen ERA (1.64). Guerrero believes the offense can level up further: “We’ve shown flashes, but we haven’t peaked.” What’s next First pitch of Game 1 is scheduled for Friday night at Rogers Centre, where Guerrero owns a .330 career postseason average. Sellout crowds are expected, and Toronto transit officials confirmed extra subway service after Guerrero’s three-run blast in Game 2 briefly overloaded city platforms with departing fans. Bottom line If October is about stars seizing the stage, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has shoved everyone else to the wings. From record-setting production to an off-field flash point that only heightened his mystique, the Blue Jays’ cornerstone is writing a postseason script that could rival the most memorable in franchise — and perhaps MLB — history.