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Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. sustained a blow to the head during a chaotic defensive sequence in the bottom of the sixth inning Friday night as the Blue Jays defeated the New York Yankees 3-1 at Rogers Centre. The incident resulted in Guerrero being removed from the game as a precaution, though he managed to score the tying run before leaving the field.
With runners positioned at first and second and one out, George Springer hit a weak ground ball to Yankees third baseman Ryan McMahon off Gerrit Cole’s fastball. McMahon stepped on third to retire the lead runner but his throw to first base sailed into the dirt, causing first baseman Luis Garcia Jr. to lose his grip on the ball as his glove came off his hand.
Guerrero seized the opportunity and sprinted toward third base as Garcia recovered and unleashed a throw toward the bag. The throw entered foul territory with no fielder covering the base, and Yankees shortstop George Lombard Jr. collided with Guerrero while pursuing the errant throw, striking him in the head and dislodging his helmet.
Despite appearing stunned by the impact, Guerrero continued home to tie the game at 1-1 before receiving assistance from teammates as he reached the dugout. Manager John Schneider indicated Guerrero was experiencing minor headache symptoms and characterized the removal as precautionary pending further evaluation.
The 2023 contract extension signee, who agreed to a 14-year, $500 million deal with Toronto, has struggled significantly this season compared to his career standards. The six-time All-Star carries a .263 batting average with seven home runs and 46 RBIs through the season’s games.
Guerrero’s power output represents a notable decline from his historical performance, as he has posted at least 23 home runs in every complete season since entering the majors. His inability to homer at home this year underscores the extent of his offensive struggles heading into the weekend series finale.
The Blue Jays (60-64) will continue their three-game series against the Yankees (68-54) Saturday at 3:07 p.m. ET, with Toronto hoping to have their lineup anchor available for continued pursuit of the third American League Wild Card position.
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