Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins admitted he is losing sleep over the struggles of star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. this season. The team is currently at the bottom of the American League East with a 53-61 record, a significant drop from their near World Series contention last year.
Guerrero's performance has been a key factor in the team's downturn. He is batting just .259 with six home runs and 44 RBIs entering Wednesday. This starkly contrasts with his previous seasons, where he hit 23 home runs and tallied 84 RBIs last year, and 30 home runs with 103 RBIs in 2024.
"I lose sleep," Atkins stated on Sportsnet’s “Blair and Baker” show. He noted that there are "subtle differences" in Guerrero's play but no "glaring, alarming concern." Atkins believes Guerrero is facing pressure and disappointment head-on, but acknowledged the difficulty in retraining oneself once subtle changes become ingrained habits.
The general manager also accepted some blame, stating that he and the team's staff have not been able to unlock Guerrero's full potential this year. Guerrero has been hampered by nagging back and hamstring issues throughout the season, which appeared to affect him during Tuesday's 7-2 loss to the Astros. He experienced discomfort after running out a ground ball and was given Wednesday off.
Manager John Schneider commented that Guerrero is "grinding" and has been dealing with hamstring tightness. He explained that Guerrero's day off was intended to give him a "blow" and a "reset" due to the quick turnaround of games and his persistent issues. While Guerrero feels "OK," the injuries have been ongoing.
The team is not currently considering placing Guerrero on the injured list, partly because he believes the team can still make a playoff run. Despite their current standing, the Blue Jays are only four games back from the final Wild Card spot in the AL.
"He wants to be out there. He wants to be contributing more than he is," Schneider said. The manager plans to speak with Guerrero further before the team's upcoming series against the Chicago Cubs.