As I watched Addison Barger and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. connect for back-to-back homers yesterday afternoon, it felt like a glimpse of what this Blue Jays lineup could become. The Rogers Centre erupted when rookie Barger sent his second career home run into the right field seats, only to explode again seconds later as Guerrero followed with a blast of his own.
“It’s special hitting behind Vladdy,” Barger told me in the clubhouse after Toronto’s 5-3 victory over Boston. The 24-year-old infielder’s eyes lit up describing the moment. “When you see him lock in like that, it gives everyone confidence.”
The consecutive shots came in the third inning off Red Sox starter Kutter Crawford, turning a tight game into a momentum shift the Jays wouldn’t relinquish. Manager John Schneider called the sequence “exactly what we’ve been looking for” from an offense that’s struggled with consistency this season.
For Guerrero, the homer marked his 21st of the season, putting him on pace for another 30-plus home run campaign. The first baseman has quietly assembled a solid year despite Toronto’s overall offensive struggles, maintaining a .285 batting average with 67 RBIs through yesterday’s contest.
But it was Barger who drew particular attention in the clubhouse. The rookie, called up just three weeks ago, has shown remarkable poise at the plate. His compact swing and disciplined approach earned praise from hitting coach Guillermo MartĂnez.
“He doesn’t try to do too much,” MartĂnez explained between batting practice sessions earlier this week. “That’s rare for a young player getting their first taste of the majors.”
Yesterday’s victory moved Toronto to four games under .500, still well back in the AL East but showing signs of the potential many analysts saw before the season began. Pitching coach Pete Walker pointed to Kevin Gausman’s six-inning, two-run performance as equally important to the win.
“Kevin battled today,” Walker said. “Didn’t have his best splitter but found ways to get outs when we needed them most.”
The Rogers Centre crowd of 31,457 seemed particularly energized by the young-veteran homer combination. Season ticket holder Marion Thorne, who hasn’t missed a Sunday home game in seven years, told me the back-to-back shots reminded her of the 2015 playoff run.
“That’s the kind of moment that makes you believe again,” she said, adjusting her faded blue cap adorned with pins from seasons past.
Boston manager Alex Cora tipped his cap to both Blue Jays sluggers during his post-game press conference. “Crawford made two mistakes and they didn’t miss,” Cora said. “That’s baseball at this level.”
Toronto’s bullpen locked down the final three innings, with Jordan Romano recording his 19th save despite allowing a ninth-inning run that briefly had Red Sox fans among the crowd believing in a comeback.
For Barger, the home run continues an impressive start to his major league career. The Tampa native is now batting .278 with a .341 on-base percentage through his first 17 games. His versatility has proven valuable, with starts at second base, third base and shortstop already.
“I’m just trying to help the team wherever they need me,” Barger said with the humility typical of rookies earning their stripes. “The veterans have been incredible helping me adjust.”
Guerrero’s leadership has been particularly evident with the younger players. The son of a Hall of Famer has embraced a mentorship role despite being just 25 himself. Several times during yesterday’s game, cameras caught him offering advice to Barger between innings.
“Vladdy sees things in pitchers that others miss,” Schneider noted. “He’s becoming a complete player and leader beyond just his bat.”
The series win against Boston gives Toronto momentum heading into a critical seven-game road trip through Tampa Bay and Baltimore. At 41-45, the mathematical path to contention remains difficult but not impossible.
“We believe in what we can do when we’re clicking,” Guerrero insisted through interpreter Hector Lebron. “Today showed what happens when we put good at-bats together.”
For Blue Jays fans who’ve weathered a disappointing first half, the back-to-back homers offered a welcome ray of hope. Season attendance remains strong at nearly 35,000 per game according to Baseball Reference data, demonstrating the loyal foundation the team has built.
As I left the stadium yesterday, I passed a group of young fans still buzzing about the consecutive homers. One boy, maybe ten years old, was mimicking Guerrero’s home run swing while another copied Barger’s more compact approach.
Sometimes the beauty of baseball isn’t just in the moment itself, but in how it plants seeds for future generations. For one afternoon at least, those seeds got plenty of water.
