Vladimir Guerrero Jr. returned to the field with a double and an unforgettable moment of payback for Ronald Acuña Jr. after a right-elbow scare. In a 3-1 win over Atlanta, Toronto also got another big hitting burst from Guerrero and extra production from Ernie
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. didn’t just beat a throw at second base. He beat Ronald Acuña Jr. at his own game—then turned it into a message.
The Toronto Blue Jays star. still working through concern after leaving the Pittsburgh Pirates game on May 24. went stomach-first into the bag during the fifth inning. His double carried hard toward the right field wall. and as Acuña tried to pick him off at second. Guerrero fought through contact and pressure. sliding into the base before the throw could get him. Then he looked Acuña right in the face and lifted a Dikembe Mutombo-style finger wag.
The clip spread fast—because the moment wasn’t just athletic. It was defiant, the kind of response that tells you Guerrero is ready to be himself again.
Guerrero’s comeback had another layer of tension. He returned after taking a 92.1 miles per hour pitch in his right elbow from Mitch Keller of Pittsburgh. Before June arrived, he even endured a brief hitting slump, and he’d admitted the slump honestly back on May 16. But the past stretch has looked different. Guerrero rediscovered his swing consistency in recent weeks, including a four-hit outing against the Baltimore Orioles on May 30.
He backed that up with multiple two-hit performances, including Thursday’s game against the Braves. In the same weekend window when Toronto’s overall season record sat at 29-33. the Blue Jays still found enough pop to win the moment that mattered. They scored one run in the 3-1 victory over Atlanta. and Guerrero added to it while Ernie Clement and Kazuma Okamoto also each pounded two hits against the Braves’ lineup.
The night didn’t erase the stress Toronto has been carrying. Heading into the weekend of June 6, the Blue Jays were 29-33 overall and had lost six of their last 10 games. But against Atlanta. Guerrero looked like the healthiest version of himself—smacking the double. making the slide. and delivering the playful. pointed reminder that even when he was unsure a few weeks back. his competitive edge didn’t disappear.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Ronald Acuña Jr. Toronto Blue Jays Atlanta Braves MLB May 24 Pittsburgh Pirates Mitch Keller right elbow June 5 2026 3-1 victory