After winning the American League Championship Series last season, the Toronto Blue Jays sit in last place in the AL East and 5.5 games out of a wild card spot. They dropped the first three series to begin the second half of the season.
On Monday, July 27, the Blue Jays begin a three-game series against the Washington Nationals.
Ahead of the series, manager John Schneider announced that outfielder Addison Barger underwent elbow surgery with a return timeline on the table.
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Addison Barger is Set to Return to Full Baseball Activities Ahead of Spring Training 2027
On July 24, the Toronto Blue Jays announced that Addison Barger will undergo elbow surgery. It was unknown whether or not the outfielder would need a full Tommy John or internal brace procedure.
Per MLB broadcaster Hazel Mae, Barger underwent surgery on July 27.
Manager John Schneider confirmed that the 26-year-old will be return to full baseball activities before Spring Training next season.
“It was just a repair, so that’s good news,” Schneider said. “It wasn’t a full reconstruction, so that’s like roughly six months.”
“It was just a repair, so that’s good news. It wasn’t a full reconstruction, so that’s like roughly six months.”
He should be back to 100% with baseball activities come spring training per John Schneider
While not verbally confirmed, it looks as if Barger received the internal brace procedure that reduced his rehab from nine to six months.
After an incredible postseason in 2025, Barger only played in nine games over the course of 44 days. Barger was 1-for-22 with an outfield assist in those nine games.
Barger was the undisputed postseason hero for the Blue Jays last season, slashing .367/.441/.583 with nine RBIs, eight runs, and three home runs in 17 games.
The Blue Jays have been hit with a tsunami of injuries this season, so the news that Barger will be ready to go at the start of next season is a huge win.
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Toronto Blue Jays Have 12 Players on the IL
Following the activation of Max Scherzer on July 27, the Blue Jays have 12 players–including no.5 prospect Ricky Tiedemann–on the injured list.
Seven pitchers, four outfielders, and an infielder.
Bowden Francis (RHP), Cody Ponce (RHP), José Berríos (RHP), Joe Mantiply (LHP), Ricky Tiedemann (LHP), Patrick Corbin (LHP), Yimi García (RHP), Jonatan Clase (OF), Anthony Santander (OF), Addison Barger (OF), Jesús Sánchez (OF), and Lenyn Sosa (INF).
The injuries have certainly taken a toll on what could have been a dominant Blue Jays team. They were riding the high of winning the AL Pennant and looking to make it all the way to the finish line again this season.
As the trade deadline approaches, the Blue Jays find themselves 14 games out of first place in the AL East, selling seems like the most logical approach for the organization.
While not impossible, it’s difficult for teams to rebound in the second half of the season with a win percentage below .500. Their roster is already stacked despite their many injuries, and have a lot of players–like Addison Barger–who will be more than ready at the start of next season.
Who’s to say what they will end up doing, but we can expect the Blue Jays to be active at the deadline.
Blue Jays Announce Breaking Addison Barger Injury News Ahead of Nationals Game