Playoff Vladdy has finally arrived, and he’s likely just getting started.

The Toronto Blue Jays couldn’t have drawn up a better start from their superstar slugger, who, in just two post-season games this year, has already doubled his hit total (three) from the three previous playoff appearances combined. So far, the New York Yankees haven’t had an answer for slowing down his offensive resurgence.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is back to being a menacing force at the plate, recording six hits — including a pair of home runs — in 10 plate appearances across the first two games of the ALDS. He set the tone from the start in Game 1, blasting a first-inning solo shot — snapping his 21-game homerless drought — to give this offence early life. Then, in Game 2, his grand slam — the franchise’s first ever in the post-season — blew the contest wide open in support of Trey Yesavage’s historic playoff debut.

Just imagine what Guerrero has in store for an encore in Game 3, as Toronto takes its 2-0 series lead into a hostile environment in New York.

Without fellow superstar Bo Bichette, who continues to recover from a PCL strain in his left knee but has yet to begin a running progression, this is precisely what the Blue Jays’ offence needed from their $500-million slugger. Given how he finished the regular season, though, his playoff breakout was far from a certainty.

Despite logging a productive 2025 campaign, which included a .292/.381/.467 slash line with 23 home runs and a 137 wRC+ (100 league average), Guerrero wasn’t himself down the stretch. He struggled mightily in Bichette’s absence, which undoubtedly added to the pressure he placed on himself, finishing with a miserable .164/.193/.182 line and a plus-two wRC+ over his final 14 games.

Guerrero’s power outage, of course, was easily the most notable concern during that span. If not for the 26-year-old’s lone double, he would’ve gone those last few weeks without recording an extra-base hit. But it wasn’t just his declining output that was cause for concern. The other troubling issue was his inability to elevate pitches, which earned him a season-high 54.5 per cent ground ball rate in September.

Both of those concerns have been eased, however, just one week into October.

Few likely needed a reset after the regular season more than Guerrero. After playing at least 155 games for the fifth straight year, his body definitely needed a break before the post-season, as did the mental aspect of his game. And we’re already witnessing the benefits of Toronto earning a first-round bye.

That time off also allowed Guerrero to refine his hitting mechanics, helping him create more lift in his swing again — adjustments that had an instant impact in Game 1 against the Yankees.

Guerrero’s first-inning home run off right-hander Luis Gil travelled an estimated 367 feet courtesy of a 37-degree launch angle, becoming the first ball he’s hit at least 350 feet with a launch angle of 30 degrees or higher since Aug. 27 (a 359-foot flyout).

No wonder he struggled to hit for extra bases in September, right? It’d be challenging for any hitter in that regard if they were also sporting an average launch angle of four degrees for an entire month — a season-low for Toronto’s cornerstone first baseman.

But Guerrero has seen that figure increase dramatically this post-season. And it hasn’t been with one or two swings; it’s been almost all of them. Of the 10 balls he’s put in play versus New York, six of them have produced a launch angle of at least 20 degrees — with each of the other four still resulting in singles.

Not only is Guerrero lifting balls more, but he’s also swinging harder and exhibiting improved swing decisions compared to his final two-week stretch from the regular season. He’s freed himself up at the plate. When that happens, he becomes virtually unstoppable in the batter’s box.

Things couldn’t have lined up any better for Toronto in the ALDS thus far. They’ve received excellent starting pitching from Kevin Gausman and Yesavage. The bullpen has held its own, for the most part. The offence has been tremendous, setting a new MLB record for the most runs scored (23) through the first two games of a series.

And, most importantly, the club’s best hitter has found his groove again. As the series now heads to New York, a place where Guerrero has feasted in years past, good luck to anyone tasked with trying to silence his bat.

Rogers Centre is Vladdy’s house, as he regularly reminds us. But if he owned a second major league ballpark, it’d surely be Yankee Stadium, where he’s logged more hits (57) than any other opposing hitter since debuting in 2019. He also shares first place with Rafael Devers for the most home runs (16) hit by an opponent in the Bronx in that span — Anthony Santander ranks third with nine.

Additionally, Guerrero owns the highest SLG (.632), ISO (.324), wOBA (.421) and wRC+ (174) of any non-Yankees hitter since ’19 (min. 100 plate appearances).

The last two seasons have seen him embrace the role of a villain more than ever, crushing the spirits of Yankee fans with his monster .383/.453/.766 slash line and 239 wRC+ over 53 plate appearances.

New York’s fan base, frustrated by the franchise being on the brink of elimination, will surely show its appreciation by unleashing a roar of boos every time Guerrero steps to the plate. At this point, though, that reception should be more of a compliment than anything else. After all, they don’t boo nobodies in these parts.

Guerrero has already put his stamp on this series. This has been the post-season breakout that the organization has been dreaming of ever since young Vladdy reached the majors six years ago. Now, with his team just one win away from its first series victory since 2016, he has a chance to lead them to the ALCS by picking up where he left off in Games 1 and 2.

The Yankees may be known as the Evil Empire. But if we’re using “Star Wars” metaphors here, Guerrero might as well be Luke Skywalker. He’s the key to New York’s demise.