Addison Barger to undergo season-ending elbow surgery
Manager John Schneider announced that Addison Barger will undergo season-ending elbow surgery. The outfielder's absence adds to a depleted roster as the team approaches the trade deadline.
Addison Barger to undergo season-ending elbow surgery
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Addison Barger will undergo season-ending elbow surgery, manager John Schneider announced Friday. The 26-year-old has played in only nine games during the 2026 season, recording one hit.
Dr. Keith Meister is scheduled to perform the operation on Monday. The team has not yet determined whether the procedure will be Tommy John surgery or an internal brace surgery. According to Hazel Mae of Sportsnet, a Tommy John procedure would result in a nine-month absence, while an internal brace option would require five months.
Barger's injury is linked to a specific moment at Rogers Centre on May 9. Returning from more than a month away due to ankle injuries, Barger made the hardest throw of his career—clocked at 101.2 m.p.h.—to nab Jorge Soler at home plate. While the throw was impressive, Schneider noted that Barger had been dealing with an elbow issue for a couple years
and that the play aggravated the injury to the point where he wanted it fixed.
Barger was placed on the injured list on May 11. Despite earlier summer optimism that he was close to a minor-league rehab assignment, he never returned to the field. He had been listed on the 60-day injured list with right elbow inflammation.
The loss of the outfielder is a blow to a team that relied on him during their previous World Series run. In 135 regular season games last year, Barger hit 21 home runs and posted a .756 OPS. His impact grew in the postseason, where he recorded a 1.025 OPS in October and hit three home runs, including the first pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history.
"It's tough to lose the whole year of at-bats, reps, and performance. We were counting on him to be a big part of our team. You can see how much we miss him, for sure,"
John Schneider, Manager, via MLB.com
Schneider added that because Barger is a player starting his career and trending in the right direction, missing nearly a full season is frustrating
for both the player and the organization.
The recovery timeline remains uncertain. While a nine-month recovery could see Barger return by late April 2027, a 12-month recovery would sideline him until July 2027. However, the team noted that position players often return from elbow reconstruction faster than pitchers.
The announcement comes as the Blue Jays struggle to maintain their postseason aspirations. After completing a 2-5 homestand against the Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto is now likely to be sellers when the trade deadline arrives on August 3. The team began a road trip Friday against the Boston Red Sox, who currently hold the final American League wild-card spot.
Toronto's roster continues to be depleted by injuries. Along with Barger, the Blue Jays have several players on the injured list, including pitchers Max Scherzer, Joe Mantiply, Bowden Francis, Yimi Garca, and Cody Ponce, as well as outfielder Anthony Santander and infielders Lenyn Sosa and Jess Sanchez.
