Toronto Blue Jays Manager Discusses Outfielder's Season-Ending Injury
· Yahoo Sports
The Toronto Blue Jays 2026 season has been one out of nightmares rather than dreams like many fans anticipated.
The Blue Jays made it all the way to Game 7 of the World Series last year, winning their first pennant since 1993 in the process, before ultimately falling to the Los Angeles Dodgers in extra innings.
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Toronto's season hasn't mean those expectations, in large part due to the injuries the club has experienced.
The Blue Jays have had a series of injuries to the starting rotation, bullpen and the position player groups.
One of the players Toronto has been without for the majority of the season has been outfielder Addison Barger.
The third-year major leaguer played the first eight games of the season before being out of action for a month due to a left ankle sprain and was activated off the IL on May 9. He was back in the lineup just a day and landed back on the shelf due to right elbow inflammation after delivering a strong-armed throw from the outfield in a game against the Los Angeles Angels on May 9.
WHAT A THROW!
— MLB (@MLB) May 9, 2026
Addison Barger immediately making an impact in his return from the IL 🎯 pic.twitter.com/ljUAcgcKBC
Barger has been out of action since the throw and subsequent IL placement. On Friday, it was announced that he would undergo season-ending elbow surgery.
Barger slashed .045/.214/.091 with a .305 OPS in nine games and hit a double with two RBIs.
The same day it was announced Barger would be out for the rest of the year, manager John Schneider was frank about the team missing the outfielder.
"It’s tough to lose the whole year of at-bats, reps and performance," Schneider said Friday. "We were counting on him to be a big part of our team. You can see how much we miss him, for sure."
Barger won't be the only offense out for the entire season. Anthony Santander, who's dealt with a series of injuries since signing a long-term free agent contract with the Blue Jays, is also set to be out the entire year.
Santander, who signed a five-year, $92.5 million contract with Toronto before the 2025 season, played in just 54 games this season and hit five doubles and six home runs with 18 RBIs.
Time is running out for the Blue Jays to turn their series around. They entered Friday in fifth place in the American League East with a 47-56 record and 12.5 games behind for first place in the division.
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