Some words of encouragement are pleasant to hear.
But others force a player to face the hard truth.
Josh Donaldson chose the latter approach.
The former Toronto Blue Jays MVP offered a brutally honest assessment of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., as the 27-year-old star endures one of the toughest seasons of his career.
The “Bringer of Rain” didn’t try to sugarcoat the situation.
He wanted Guerrero to understand that moments like these are exactly when a superstar’s mettle is tested.
“We’re going to find out a lot about Vlad right now, because who are you when things get tough?” Donaldson said on the *Get It Done League* show.
It wasn’t merely a comment.
It was a challenge.
“Right now, he’s on the ground.”
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. entered the 2026 season with massive expectations.
After signing a 14-year, $500 million contract with the Blue Jays, Guerrero was expected to remain the centerpiece of Toronto’s plans. But instead of a dominant season, he is struggling to rediscover his trademark power.
According to figures cited by *Heavy*, Guerrero is batting .263 with 113 hits, 7 home runs, 46 RBIs, 61 runs, and 7 stolen bases through 115 games.
The home run total stands out the most.
Just seven.
For a player who once hit 48 home runs in a single season and is consistently regarded as one of MLB’s premier power hitters, that number falls far short of expectations.
And Donaldson didn’t shy away from that fact.
“Right now, he’s on the ground. He’s an easy target.”
It’s a harsh reality. Yet, beneath those words lay a clear message: Donaldson believes Guerrero still possesses the talent to bounce back on his own.
“You make $500 million…”
Perhaps Donaldson’s most striking comment directly addressed the massive contract Guerrero had signed.
“You make $500 million, yet you haven’t hit a single home run at the ‘Homer Dome’—come on.”
This was a direct hit at the issue Guerrero is currently facing.
The Rogers Centre used to be Vladdy’s familiar stage.
But this season, he has yet to hit a home run at home during the regular season. According to a recent report, Guerrero’s last regular-season home run at the Rogers Centre came on August 17, 2025, against the Texas Rangers. All seven of his home runs in the 2026 season have come on the road.
For a hitter whose game is built on power, it is an unbelievable paradox.
And Donaldson wants Guerrero to break it.
“Flip the switch”
Donaldson then delivered a line that might well be the most important message for Guerrero:
“Flip the switch, because we’ve all got one.”
Flip the switch.
That is exactly what Toronto is waiting for.
Guerrero is not a player lacking talent. He has won Silver Slugger and Gold Glove awards, led MLB in home runs in 2021, and been a perennial All-Star selection.
In 2025, he even helped the Blue Jays reach the World Series and won the ALCS MVP award.
So, the question isn’t:
“Does Vladdy have what it takes?”
But rather:
“When will Vladdy find his form again?”
And then, injury struck again.
Just as Guerrero was trying to regain his form, another setback occurred.
On August 14, Guerrero suffered a head injury following a collision with teammate George Lombard Jr. …at third base. He underwent concussion protocol and was subsequently placed on the 7-day concussion list.
That complicates the situation further.
Guerrero isn’t just battling the pressure to perform.
He also has to ensure he is healthy before returning.
The Blue Jays certainly don’t want to take risks with their most important player just to try and snap a home-run drought.
Toronto still needs Vladdy.
The Blue Jays enter the final stretch of the season in a paradoxical position.
A team that reached the World Series last season is now struggling in the postseason race.
According to Heavy, Toronto sits fourth in the AL East with a 62-65 record after 127 games, yet they are only half a game out of the final Wild Card spot.
In other words, the door is still open.
But Toronto needs its biggest stars to step through that door.
And no one is more important than Guerrero.
If he returns swinging a powerful bat, the Blue Jays’ offense could transform instantly.
If he continues to struggle, the pressure will only mount.
Donaldson isn’t giving up on Vladdy.
It is worth noting that despite his harsh words, Donaldson never claimed Guerrero had lost his superstar potential.
Quite the opposite.
His message was more of a call to action.
A former MVP telling a young star that tough times are no excuse to hide.
It’s time to step up.
It’s time to fight.
It’s time to prove himself.
Donaldson concluded his message with a weighty question:
“We’re going to see what he’s really made of.”
And perhaps that is the biggest question facing Vladimir Guerrero Jr. right now.
Not whether he can hit 40 home runs.
Not whether he can win an MVP award.
It is about whether he can bounce back after a season fraught with adversity.
For a true superstar is defined not only by his days of triumph,
But also by how he rises again when the odds are stacked against him.
Josh Donaldson has made his point clear.
Now, it is Vladdy’s turn to answer with his bat.