The Toronto Blue Jays enjoyed a dream season in 2025, coming just one win shy of capturing a World Series title.
A major reason for their deep postseason run was the play of first basemanVladimir Guerrero Jr., the face of the franchise and the highest-paid player in team history after signing a 14-year, $500 million contract during the regular season.
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Guerrero was dominant in October, hitting .397 with a .494 on-base percentage, a 1.289 OPS, eight home runs and 15 RBIs across 18 games.
Another key contributor was infielder Ernie Clement, whose breakout performance provided an unexpected spark. Clement set an MLB record for most hits in a single postseason with 30, surpassing Randy Arozarena’s previous mark of 29.
Clement’s postseason heroics came after a regular season in which he was largely league average offensively. Over 157 games, he posted a .277 batting average, a .313 on-base percentage, a .711 OPS, nine home runs and 50 RBIs.
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While those numbers were steady but unspectacular, his ability to elevate his game on the biggest stage made him one of the Blue Jays’ most valuable players when it mattered most.
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) celebrates with third baseman Ernie Clement (22)© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
As both players enter the offseason, the goal for 2026 remains clear. The mission is to head back to the World Series, and next year they will have a deeper roster around them as the front office has been one of the most aggressive in MLB free agency, reinvesting the revenue earned during the playoff run back into the team.
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On Sunday, Clement shared a fan art image of himself and Guerrero performing their signature infield celebration, the same one they carried out after every win during the World Series.
Clement posted the picture to his Instagram story, tagging Guerrero and adding the caption, “Need more of this @vladdyjr27.”
Guerrero quickly reshared the message, a sign of the bond between the two and their shared determination to bring Toronto back to the biggest stage.
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@ernieclement28 on Instagram
This exchange captures the spirit of the Blue Jays heading into 2026, a team built on star power, unexpected contributors and a collective drive to finish the job they came so close to completing last season.
Fortunately, earlier this offseason the Blue Jays tendered Clement a contract for 2026, which means he is now under team control for the foreseeable future as an arbitration-eligible player.
That ensures he will have plenty of opportunities to continue building chemistry with Guerrero, whose talent is undeniable as a five-time All-Star.
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Related: Blue Jays Announce Trade With Guardians Amid MLB Free Agency
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Dec 21, 2025, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.