The Toronto Blue Jays have activated first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. from the seven-day concussion injured list, manager John Schneider confirmed ahead of their game against the New York Yankees. Guerrero returns to the active roster after clearing all Major League Baseball concussion protocols and completing a brief rehabilitation assignment.
The 27-year-old first baseman was placed on the injured list following an August 14 collision at third base with Yankees shortstop George Lombard Jr. Guerrero sustained the injury when his head struck Lombard’s left knee and thigh during a play, forcing his immediate removal from the game due to concussion symptoms.
Prior to his activation, Guerrero participated in a single rehabilitation game on Thursday with the Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays, where he walked twice and hit an RBI double. According to team officials, he successfully passed all required neurological and physical testing to secure his clearance.
Manager John Schneider expressed confidence in Guerrero’s recovery, emphasizing his importance to the lineup despite a challenging season. “He’s still one of our best players,” Schneider said, “and physically, he’s feeling normal. Hopefully he can be back to his normal version of himself. That’s all we’re looking for, nothing crazy. It would be great if he went on one of those crazy heaters like he did in the postseason, but it’s about hitting the ball hard, playing defense and being Vlad.”
Guerrero has struggled to match his career-best production this season while playing through various back and hamstring ailments. Over 115 games, he is batting .263 with seven home runs—all of which have been hit on the road—and a .693 OPS.
To accommodate Guerrero’s return on the active roster, the Blue Jays optioned 27-year-old infielder/outfielder Davis Schneider to Triple-A Buffalo.