The talk of the 2026 Toronto Blue Jays is the absence of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s productivity.

It was a season of regression for the half-a-billion-dollar first baseman, and it’s easily the biggest talking point surrounding the 2026 Blue Jays. The big question is whether or not Guerrero Jr. turn the page and bounce-back in 2027?

For fans, it was frustrating to see highest-paid Blue Jay in franchise history struggle with the bat the way he did in 2026, especially compared to his performance in 2025. Unfortunately, this lack of production is a big reason why they failed to make the playoffs after winning the American League pennant in 2025.

Here’s what he struggled with in 2026, and how he can bounce-back in 2027.

Once a player has a long slump, their mentality plays the same song over and over again, breaking out of the slump is tough. If anything, the stress can compound the lack of production, and the player begins to sink in your own failure.

The best thing right now for Guerrero Jr. is the off-season. Sliding into the postseason last minute would’ve been a bigger stressor for the slugger, and all he needs is time away from the game and from the plate. Adjustments at the plate start with a reset, time in the cage, and video review.

Reflecting on what was done differently, along with approach and attack, is important. Something clearly changed from 2025 to 2026. What was that change? Understanding this will ultimately prepare Guerrero Jr. for a bounce back.

Inch by inch, Guerrero Jr. needs to work his way back to what worked for him. The superstar fist baseman needs to remember his game and what makes him a successful hitter. Rebuilding his power without sacrificing his contact-ability is important for the Jays slugger.

Guerrero Jr. needs to continue to hit the ball hard and put up quality at-bats, while not being a “home run or nothing” type hitter. His 2026 barrel percentage was a 6.9%, down from 2025’s 12.2%. His hard-hit percentage went from a 50.7% hard-hit rate to a 44.3% in 2026.

His approach needs to change to be able to increase his contact-ability while adding more power. Guerrero Jr. needs to focus on smaller approaches, looking for a pitch that he could do damage with.

That being said, there were some issues with his swing; what’s decently noticeable is the length in his swing. It seems to be longer rather than compact and short, especially in two-strike approach scenarios. Trying not to do too much is the main mentality to carry forward while rehabbing from this slump. This will allow him to use the field more as his playground, rather than aiming for the stands.

Fastballs should be a focus for Guerrero Jr. while reading patterns of how pitchers approach his at-bats. Mentally, Guerrero Jr. needs to understand that pitchers may not make many mistakes on against him and will utilize tools on the pitching belt to get the job done.

If he doesn’t see many four-seam fastballs, maybe focusing on the sinkers, cutters, or breaking pitches may be the best thing. The Blue Jays do have access to the Trajekt pitching machine, where they can mimic the exact specifications of every pitcher in the league.

Preparation will be necessary for the Jays’ first baseman. Lastly, health and wellness will be key; Guerrero Jr. will need to maintain his physical health, along with being mentally fit for the coming pressure of 2027. Shortly into the off-season, the first baseman received laser eye surgery, just another potential reason for why the season went the way it did.

The Blue Jays slugger had one terrible season offensively, but that shouldn’t define his career. As an elite hitter, Guerrero Jr. can pull it together and overcome the adversity of a season-long slump.