Toronto Blue Jays place Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on injured list with concussion

By Liam Tremblay — 16 August 2026 — 3 min read

The Toronto Blue Jays have placed Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on the seven-day concussion injured list. This decision follows an incident during Friday night’s 3-1 victory against the New York Yankees, where Guerrero sustained a blow to the head.

During the sixth inning of the game, Guerrero was involved in a collision at third base. After scoring a run, he grimaced and later left the dugout, reporting a headache. This symptom is recognized as a red flag within the Major League Baseball‘s concussion protocol, specifically in the SCAT5 sport concussion assessment tool.

Incident Details and Immediate Aftermath

The play unfolded when Guerrero slid into third base following a pair of defensive miscues by the Yankees. Shortstop George Lombard Jr., attempting to cover the base, collided with Guerrero. An errant throw pulled Lombard into Guerrero’s path, with Lombard’s knee and thigh making contact with Guerrero’s head. Guerrero’s helmet was sent into the air, and Lombard’s left knee made contact with the left side of Guerrero’s head.

Despite the collision, Guerrero quickly got up and ran home to score. However, he appeared shaken up after crossing the plate and was briefly attended to by trainer Jose Ministral before heading to the dugout. He was subsequently removed from the game and replaced by Charles McAdoo.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider, who experienced seven documented concussions during his own playing career, expressed his understanding of head injuries. He noted that Guerrero was “kind of feeling the same-ish” on Saturday as he was on Friday, which prompted the club’s decision to place him on the injured list.

Schneider remarked on the severity of the impact, stating, “Vlad’s lucky he’s as sturdy as he is because he got squared up pretty good. It was knee and thigh that hit him. If it was more knee we’re talking like, holy (crap). But he still got him pretty good.”

Guerrero’s Absence and Team Adjustments

This marks Guerrero’s first stint on an injured list since a knee injury in 2018 when he was playing in double-A. Saturday’s game was the 10th game he has missed this season, a notable increase compared to the 18 games he missed across the 2020 through 2025 seasons combined.

To return to play, Guerrero must adhere to MLB-mandated steps. These include completing a Return to Play form and submitting supporting information for approval by the league’s medical director. His status will be checked against baseline cognitive testing that all players undergo.

In Guerrero’s absence, the Blue Jays plan to utilize a combination of Charles McAdoo and Kazuma Okamoto at first base. The team also selected outfielder Daz Cameron to the roster. Cameron, who signed a minor-league deal in July, provides another right-handed batting option for specific matchups.

Schneider mentioned that Cameron was batting .368/.455/.586 in 25 games with triple-A Buffalo, highlighting the decision to call up a player performing well. The manager also noted the importance of Cameron’s left-handed component for upcoming games, with the Yankees starting Ryan Weathers on Sunday and Ian Seymour of the Tampa Bay Rays being a possibility for next week, depending on Shane McClanahan’s rotation status.

Friday Night’s Game Overview

The Friday night game saw Shane Bieber deliver six strong innings for the Blue Jays, and Alejandro Kirk hit a home run, contributing to the 3-1 victory over the Yankees at Rogers Centre. Bieber, with a record of 4-2, allowed four hits, one walk, and one earned run, recording five strikeouts.

Relievers Tyler Rogers and Mason Fluharty each pitched an inning, with Louis Varland securing his 27th save. The Blue Jays’ win was their fourth in five games, bringing their record to 60-64. The Yankees’ only run came from a solo homer by Trent Grisham in the sixth inning.

The Blue Jays capitalized on defensive issues in the sixth inning to take the lead. After Guerrero scored, Kirk hit a double, bringing George Springer across for the go-ahead run. Kirk later added an insurance run in the eighth inning with another solo homer off Bradley Hanner. The Blue Jays outhit the Yankees 8-5 in the game, which was played in front of a sellout crowd of 42,816.

Source: sportsnet.ca