The Toronto Blue Jays have been crushed by injuries throughout the 2026 season, but the club finally got a positive news update on rehabbing right-hander Jose Berrios, who delivered a strong performance on Wednesday, April 22.
Berrios tossed four scoreless innings at Single-A Dunedin, reports Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. The righty sat at 93.5 mph with his fastball. The pitch topped out at 94.6 mph. Berrios is working his way back from a fractured elbow that was discovered during MLB Spring Training. He got up to 55 pitches in his second rehab appearance.
It was a great bounce-back effort for Berrios, who was tagged for five earned runs over 2.2 innings in his first minor league outing. He could advance beyond the Single-A level in short order, per Bannon.
Toronto Blue Jays News Update: Jose Berrios Delivers Strong Start, Shows Improved Velocity
The results aren’t crucial during a rehab assignment, particularly for a veteran like Berrios. He should be expected to perform well against minor league competition. The velocity, however, is of note. Berrios averaged a career-low 93 mph on his heater last season. It was his first time below 94 mph since 2019 with the Minnesota Twins. Berrios sat at 94.2 mph with his fastball in 2024 with the Blue Jays.
Berrios’ decreased velocity this past season led to an ineffective campaign. He posted a middling 4.17 ERA across 31 appearances (30 starts). His strikeout rate sank below 20%, while his walk rate crept up to 8.0%. Berrios managed 166 innings in 2025, his lowest mark during his tenure with the Blue Jays.
The fractured elbow is the second major arm issue Berrios has dealt with in the last calendar year. He was sidelined with elbow inflammation near the end of last season. He recovered in time for the postseason, but was left off the playoff roster. Berrios inked a seven-year, $131 million contract with Toronto prior to the 2022 season. He can opt out after this year. Berrios is making $18.7 million in 2026, making him the fifth-highest-paid player on the roster.
Where Will Berrios Slot Into the Rotation?
With Berrios reaching 55 pitches, he should only need a handful of additional rehab appearances to build up to a normal workload. The expectation is that the righty will steadily move up the minor league ladder as he nears a big-league return. Crucially, Berrios is on the 15-day injured list, not the 60-day IL. He could return sometime in May.
Toronto has been hit hard on the pitching side by injuries. The club lost Bowden Francis to Tommy John surgery in the spring. Shane Bieber opened the year on the IL due to a forearm concern. Trey Yesavage is working his way back from a shoulder impingement. Cody Ponce tore his ACL in his first start of the season. The health issues led the club to re-sign Max Scherzer and bring in veteran Patrick Corbin. Both pitchers have performed reasonably well so far.
Eric Lauer is getting a shot in the rotation with so many key arms missing. He’ll likely be booted to the bullpen when Berrios is healthy. Lauer has an ugly 6.75 ERA across 22.2 innings.
Blue Jays Get Positive News on Jose Berrios