Blue Jays Face Embarrassing Reality After Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Contract - Yahoo Sports

Published 1 week ago• 2 minute read

When your lineup features established sluggers like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, and Anthony Santander, it’d be hard to blame fans for thinking you’d rank among the league’s top home run teams.

Over a month into the season, it appears the Toronto Blue Jays didn’t get the memo.

Toronto failed to homer in Sunday’s 5-4 loss to the Cleveland Guardians, keeping their season total at 23 home runs. Elsewhere, the Kansas City Royals smashed seven home runs against the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday, giving them 25 on the year and pushing the Blue Jays into last place among MLB teams.

The average club entered play Sunday with 35 home runs, or nearly 1.1 homers per game. The Blue Jays, meanwhile, average 0.67 long balls through 34 games.

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

In fairness, perhaps we shouldn’t be too shocked. Toronto hit 156 home runs last year, the fifth-worst mark of any team amid their 88-loss campaign. The Blue Jays ranked 16th in 2023, so it’s not precedented for them to rank nowhere near the New York Yankees or Los Angeles Dodgers.

However, the Blue Jays’ lineup doesn’t exactly lack power hitters. Guerrero inked a 14-year, $500 million contract last month in part because he averaged 34 homers, a .887 OPS, and 4.6 bWAR from 2021-24.

Santander mashed 105 homers during the last three seasons, and Bichette has an established power stroke. Although four-time All-Star right fielder George Springer isn’t the player he once was, he’s nonetheless hitting .322 and on pace for arguably his best Blue Jays campaign.

So, what’s the problem? Where are all the homers?

By no means should the Blue Jays be last in home runs, especially with a payroll of over $246 million. The Chicago White Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates each have more home runs despite being in a position to lose over 100 games.

The Blue Jays still have plenty of time to turn things around, and they likely will, barring any significant injuries. However, it’s still strange to think the Blue Jays have so few home runs nearly a quarter into the season.

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