PHOENIX — While the team around him has ebbed and flowed through a tumultuous April, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. remains the one constant, unmovable force in the Toronto Blue Jays’ universe. On Friday night at Chase Field, Vladdy continued his scorching start to the 2026 campaign, extending his hitting streak to a season-high 12 games with a clinical multi-hit performance against the Diamondbacks.
The streak began back in early April during a series against the Yankees, and since then, Guerrero has been virtually impossible to retire. Over this 12-game stretch, he is batting an absurd .412 with five home runs and 14 RBIs. What’s most impressive, however, isn’t just the raw power—it’s the plate discipline. During this run, Guerrero has struck out only three times, showcasing a “sculpted” approach that many are comparing to his 2021 MVP-runner-up season.
In Friday’s contest, Guerrero didn’t wait long to keep the streak alive. In his first plate appearance against Arizona starter Michael Soroka, Vladdy took an outside sinker and lined it sharply into right field for a single. He followed that up in the fifth inning with a blistering double into the gap that nearly took the glove off the Diamondbacks’ third baseman.
“Vladdy is in a different dimension right now,” said hitting coach Guillermo Martinez. “He’s seeing the ball before it even leaves the pitcher’s hand. When he’s in this zone, he doesn’t just hit the ball; he punishes it. But he’s also taking what the pitcher gives him. If they pitch him away, he hits it to right. If they come inside, he clears the fences.”
The 12-game streak is currently the longest active streak in the American League and has moved Guerrero into the top three in the AL batting title race. For a player who has faced immense pressure to carry a shorthanded lineup, the consistency is a testament to his maturity. While other stars might try to “do too much” when the team is losing, Guerrero has simplified his game, focusing on hard contact and moving runners.
His teammates have noticed. “It takes the pressure off all of us,” says catcher Alejandro Kirk. “Knowing that Vladdy is going to give you at least one or two hits every single night allows the rest of us to breathe. He’s our anchor.”
As the Blue Jays look to climb back to .500, they will need Guerrero to maintain this level of production. With George Springer nearing a return and Lenyn Sosa providing new life to the bottom of the order, a locked-in Vladimir Guerrero Jr. makes the Toronto lineup one of the most dangerous in baseball, regardless of the standings. For now, fans are just enjoying the show, wondering how long “The Vladdy Show” can keep this historic streak alive.