Addison

Barger

Toronto manager John Schneider told reporters Barger didn’t require a full Tommy John ligament replacement procedure and is only facing a six-month recovery, which means he should be a full-go for spring training. The 26-year-old figures to be a popular late-round sleeper target in fantasy drafts next spring after a lost season where he was limited to just nine games due to ankle and elbow injuries.

It remains to be seen whether Barger will get the full Tommy John procedure or the internal brace procedure instead. Either way, he’s going to miss the remainder of the 2026 season and most of the 2027 season as well while recovering.

Barger was diagnosed with a stress reaction in his back in late June and has not attempted any baseball activities that we’ve heard of since. He’s been on the 10-day injured list since early May, so there are no structural forces pushing against his timeline by making this move. He also doesn’t, as far as we know, have a timeline at this point.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider told reporters Barger suffered the injury while ramping up his hitting progression as he worked his way back from elbow inflammation. The 26-year-old has been limited to just nine games this season due to injury and won’t make it back until well into the second half following this latest setback.

Barger has been on the shelf working his way back from elbow inflammation since mid-May. The 26-year-old has progressed to hitting off a pitching machine and throwing from a distance of 150 feet. The hope is that he’ll be ready to start a rehab assignment at some point relatively soon.

Blue Jays’ skipper John Schneider noted on Friday that the Jays don’t expect Barger to be out for much longer than the minimum stint on the injured list due to inflammation in his elbow. It sounds like it’s possible he may not even require a minor league rehab assignment before returning to the Blue Jays’ lineup.

It’s the best possible outcome that Barger isn’t dealing with any ligament damage after hitting the injured list with elbow inflammation. He’ll receive an anti-inflammatory cortisone injection to address a joint issue and be shut down for a couple days. The 26-year-old corner outfielder is likely facing a multi-week absence, but it doesn’t sound like surgery is on the table. There should be a definitive return timeline once he’s cleared to ramp up baseball activities again.

Barger came off the injured list for one game after missing multiple weeks with ankle injuries. In that one game, he uncorked a 101 mph throw from right field, but then spoke to the media after the game with a huge ice wrap on his elbow. He’s now on the injured list with inflammation, and there is no timeline for his return.

Barger made a terrific 101-mph throw from right to nail Jorge Soler at the plate in Saturday’s game, but it looks like he might pay a price for it. Yohendrick Piñango figures to be recalled to share time with Myles Straw if Barger returns to the IL.

No word yet on the severity of the injury or how long he may be shelved for. Barger just returned from the injured list on Saturday after missing more than a month’s worth of action due to an ankle sprain. Myles Straw will take his place in the Jays’ lineup and will bat eighth against Angels’ right-hander Jose Soriano.