'Never felt the pressure': Guerrero has big game, first homer at Rogers Centre in win

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. watches his ball after hitting a solo home run and his first of the season at home while playing against the Baltimore Orioles during fifth inning American League MLB baseball action in Toronto on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

TORONTO — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. claimed he never felt pressure, or thought it was time, to finally smack his first homer at home this season as he made his way to Rogers Centre in recent weeks.

The Toronto Blue Jays’ slumping slugger did just that on Sunday, drilling a homer down the left-field line and into his club’s bullpen in Toronto’s 8-1 drubbing of the Baltimore Orioles (72-78). Bullpen catcher Matt Domian made a nifty catch as part of the moment.

“I knew it was going to happen,” Guerrero said through an interpreter. “Today, tomorrow, I never felt the pressure. I never came to the ballpark thinking I had to hit one.”

Guerrero enjoyed a four-hit game with two singles and a third-inning double that missed being a homer by a foot off the right-centre field wall.

The homer was the middle of three successive longballs for the home side off Baltimore lefty Trevor Rogers (10-10). First, George Springer knocked a shot out to right field. Then came Guerrero’s long-awaited blast. Finally, Kazuma Okamoto followed with a monster 410-footer to the second deck in left.

It was the seventh time in club history the Blue Jays slammed three successive homers and the first time since June 19, 2012, when Colby Rasmus, Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnación went deep in Milwaukee. It was another seven years before Vernon Wells, Corey Koskie and Shea Hillenbrand went back-to-back at Rogers Centre on April 9, 2005.

Not only did the 41,805 at Rogers Centre go bonkers with Guerrero’s homer, but so did his teammates. Shortstop Andres Gimenez and others flew over the top dugout railing in a frenzy to congratulate their teammate.

“It means a lot,” Guerrero said. “They obviously were aware of what was going on. They kept telling me to keep my head up.”

He sure took his time trotting around the bases. Maybe he was trying to remember his homer routine, like the hop he does between second and third, the shush sign with third-base coach Carlos Febles, the kiss of the wrists and glance skyward as he approaches home plate.

“That’s just my pace,” he claimed.

As Guerrero slipped on the Blue Jays homer blazer for the first time at Rogers Centre since Game 6 against the Seattle Mariners in the 2025 American League Championship Series on Oct. 19, the capacity crowd chanted “Vla-ddy, Vla-ddy,” for a curtain call that Guerrero obliged.

“I think everyone was pretty excited, not just for him, but for the game, too.” Toronto manager John Schneider added. “It seemed like the crowd really sensed what it actually meant to.”

The reaction was far from the boos he occasionally heard at home.

“My father (former Montreal Expos standout Vladimir Guerrero Sr.) always told me that the fans don’t boo bad players,” Guerrero said when asked about the jeers.

The 27-year-old Guerrero hit his homer in his 68th home game of 2026 and 252nd at-bat. But he wasn’t the only offensive highlight for the Blue Jays (75-75), who remain one game behind the Cleveland Guardians for the final AL wild-card spot.

Springer knocked in four RBI with his rally-igniting homer and a bases-loaded clearing double in the eighth. Okamoto’s homer meant he set a rookie club record with his 85th RBI.

“It was great, a game like that,” Guerrero said. “But it’s about winning, it’s about the team.”

Yesavage Update

Injured Toronto starter Trey Yesavage, out with a left knee ailment since early July, threw a bullpen session on Sunday morning. He is expected to throw a rehab start for triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday and start for the Blue Jays on Sept. 21 in Baltimore.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2026.

Tim Wharnsby, The Canadian Press