Guerrero Undergoes Eye Surgery After Blue Jays Downturn

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. underwent laser eye surgery after a difficult 2026 season, according to Sportsnet and other reports, as the club begins an offseason search for answers following a 79-83 finish and a missed postseason.

Sportsnet said the Laser Eye Center of Miami posted that Guerrero was recovering well after Dr. Gabriel Lazcano performed the procedure. The clinic said he was seen at a post-operative visit, but the exact date and type of surgery were not disclosed.

Guerrero, 27, finished with career lows across a full season, batting .260 with a .332 on-base percentage, a .688 OPS, nine home runs and 57 RBIs over 144 games. According to Sportsnet, he also drew 56 walks in 609 plate appearances, his lowest full-season total since 2019.

Additional performance indicators also fell sharply. According to Jays Journal, Guerrero posted a 44.3 percent hard-hit rate, a 90.3 mph average exit velocity, a 6.9 percent barrel rate and a 28.7 percent launch-angle sweet-spot rate, all among his weakest marks since his rookie year.

His struggles were especially visible at home. The New York Times said Guerrero did not hit his first home run at Rogers Centre until Sept. 13, while his 95 wRC+ and 1.0 fWAR were the lowest of his eight-year career.

"To be honest with you, I’m not going to put any excuses. Basically, I didn’t have a good season. My focus right now is going into the off-season, work very hard and make sure that I come back strong.

First thing I’m gonna do is just I need some rest, mentally, physically. Then get back to work and then just stay focused," said Guerrero, through translator Hector Lebron.

That response came on the final weekend of the season, when Guerrero was asked about physical issues that may have affected him. The Toronto Sun said he had dealt with a back problem that dated to before the All-Star break, a game he skipped to rest.

"Everybody who knows me, for me not to play, it has to be something that I feel it hurts really bad," said Guerrero.

Guerrero has built a reputation as an everyday player. The Toronto Sun said he still appeared in 144 of 162 games, though that total was another career low.

"I go out there every day, regardless what I feel, and I play very hard for my teams, for my teammates and of course, for my fans," said Guerrero.

Toronto now enters a critical stretch with Guerrero heading into the second season of the 14-year, $500 million extension he signed in April 2025. The Toronto Sun reported that club officials wanted to address his offensive decline early, especially with a possible labor disruption beginning Dec. 1.

"We need his input, we need to make sure that we’ve considered all stakeholders and as much information as possible. He is extremely athletic, extremely dynamic with incredible rhythm and tempo and I think he can get that base back," said Ross Atkins, Blue Jays general manager.

Atkins said the organization was preparing a structured offseason plan with Guerrero. Toronto is trying to reverse a sharp downturn one year after a 2025 club that reached Game 7 of the World Series.

"He’s ready to get to work. He’s ready to lean into it and is extremely confident he will be back. The plan that’s in place are meeting points and who are in those meetings and setting them. We want to consolidate, present our thoughts to him, download them and allow him to breathe," said Atkins.

The season also brought scrutiny beyond the field. According to the New York Times, Guerrero faced questions late in the year over comments about his contract before later apologizing to fans.

"I don’t regret myself. I’m not lying, what I’m saying. I understand some fans, they don’t understand the way or what I was trying to say, specifically. But what I said was the way I feel," said Guerrero, through team interpreter Hector Lebron.

Guerrero later acknowledged the broader impact of his season as Toronto fell out of playoff contention a year after its World Series run.

"Obviously I feel really bad about the year I had. I couldn’t get my team to the postseason," said Guerrero.

The Miami clinic framed the procedure as a step toward restoring his production at the plate.

"Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is doing great at his post-op visit after laser vision correction with Dr. Gabriel Lazcano. Looking forward to an MVP year and lots of home runs with his new vision," the Laser Eye Center of Miami said on Instagram.

The decision carries some uncertainty. The New York Times, citing a 2020 report by The Athletic, noted that athletes weigh potential benefits against risks such as reduced visual acuity.

"It’s a risk, where every athlete has to decide: Is it worth it?" said Michael Peters, a North Carolina optometrist and author of the book, "See to Play: The Eyes of Elite Athletes."

Peters said the procedure can make sense for players who struggle with contacts or do not want to wear glasses.

"For the athlete who’s having trouble with contacts, then it may be worth the risk, or someone who doesn’t want to wear glasses, then it’s worth the risk. It’s an option, and there are pros and cons," said Peters.