Could improved vision from eye surgery be the big fix for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Blue Jays?

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Could improved vision be the big fix for Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who, when his game is on, seemingly can hit a baseball as far as the eye can see?

When the face of the Blue Jays franchise struggles, as he did mightily in 2026, it sometimes felt as though he was hoping merely to make contact with his swing. The frustrations ran deep for the 27-year-old, his team and the fan base.

Following vows by Guerrero, manager John Schneider and GM Ross Atkins to find solutions in an off-season that came too early, the All-Star first baseman has apparently taken the first steps toward a fix.

According to multiple reports, Guerrero recently underwent corrective laser eye surgery, which in theory should help him better lock in on some of the pitches that have dramatically eluded him.

A social media post from the Laser Eye Center of Miami declared that Guerrero underwent successful surgery, though it is unclear precisely what the procedure was or when it took place.

“Home Run Vision,” the post began. “An elite hitter like Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. leaves nothing to chance, not even his vision.

“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.”

In the Instagram post, which first appeared on Thursday, a smiling Guerrero poses with Lazcano.

On the final weekend of the season, Guerrero was asked if there were physical ailments that compromised his performance and took the high road in his answer.

Guerrero has long used glasses and/or contact lenses, though it’s unclear whether he used the latter during games.

“To be honest with you, I’m not going to put any excuses,” Guerrero said in Spanish, through translator Hector Lebron. “Basically, I didn’t have a good season. My focus right now is going into the off-season, work very had 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.”

Where did Guerrero struggle in 2026?

The depth of Guerrero’s struggles were staggering, of course, a big reason why the Jays were one of the worst offensively in all of MLB.

With just nine home runs – and only one at the Rogers Centre, as impossible as that was to believe – Guerrero was a shadow of his former self.

In particular, opposing pitchers attacked him with breaking balls that were heavy in spin, often causing Guerrero to flail away hopelessly. The more he struggled, the more he was attacked that way and his confidence eroded.

It stands to reason that corrective eye surgery would help him pick up that spin easier and improve his ability to hit those types of pitches.

The results were evident as Guerrero had the worst hitting season of his career, with a modest .260 batting average and .332 on-base percentage. His 56 walks were his lowest since his rookie season in 2019. The latter could have just been poor pitch selection, but it could also speak to his “eye” for evaluating what type of pitch was coming his way.

What will the Jays do to fix Vlad?

All of the parties involved have acknowledged that there will be some urgency to improve Guerrero’s work at the plate.

With a likelihood of a labour disruption beginning on Dec. 1, the team would then not be able to have any contact with the player who just finished Year 1 off a franchise record 14-year, $500 million US contract.

With that in mind, Atkins said that team would address the struggles early. Apparently that has happened.

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

“He’s ready to get to work,” Atkins said. “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.”

Did Guerrero consider shutting it down in 2026?

With a wonky back that was bothering him from before the All-Star break – a game he skipped to rest – Guerrero was asked if he considered taking a breather during the season.

“Everybody who knows me, for me not to play, it has to be something that I feel it hurts really bad,” Guerrero said on the final weekend of the season.”

In fact, throughout his career, Guerrero has taken immense pride in being an everyday player, barely missing a game. In 2026, he played in 144 of the Jays 162 games, 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.”

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