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Blue Jays' Addison Barger: Shut down due to stress reaction
Rotowire
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Monday that Barger (elbow) will be shut down for a couple of weeks after a recent MRI revealed a stress reaction in his back, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Per Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca, Schneider noted that Barger made been progressing well in his recovery from right elbow inflammation while ramping up his hitting in Florida over the past few weeks, but he experienced back pain following a recent workout, which prompted the MRI. As a result of the stress reaction, the 26-year-old's return from the injured list will be delayed until after the All-Star break. After a strong finish to the 2025 regular season and a star turn in the Blue Jays' run to the World Series, Barger has been unable to build on that breakout performance, largely due to injury. He's been limited to just nine games with the big club so far in 2026 while missing time due to left and right ankle sprains in addition to the elbow and back problems.
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Blue Jays' Addison Barger: Still sore while hitting
Rotowire
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Wednesday that Barger (elbow) will fly back to Toronto soon to be examined by the medical staff before potentially beginning a rehab assignment, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
The Blue Jays initially hoped Barger would be ready for a rehab assignment last week, but he's still feeling a bit of soreness in his right elbow at times when hitting. A revised timeline pointed toward Barger kicking off his rehab assignment Thursday, but it's unclear whether that could still happen. The 26-year-old has been sidelined since mid-May due to right elbow inflammation.
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Blue Jays' Addison Barger: Aiming to start rehab Thursday
Rotowire
Barger (elbow) is targeting Thursday for the beginning of his rehab assignment, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
Barger is expected to require about a week's worth of rehab games before being reinstated to the Blue Jays' active roster, setting him up to return in early July if all goes well. The 26-year-old has been shelved since mid-May with right elbow inflammation, and he's played only nine games for Toronto this season because of injuries.
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Blue Jays' Addison Barger: Rehab could be pushed to next week
Rotowire
Barger (elbow) might not begin a rehab assignment until early next week, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Barger continues to make progress with his right elbow inflammation but could need an additional few more days than expected to ramp up activities before he's cleared to play in games. He should still be able to return to the Blue Jays' active roster before the end of June.
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Blue Jays' Addison Barger: Nearing rehab assignment
Rotowire
The Blue Jays are hoping to send Barger (elbow) on a rehab assignment next week, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
Barger continues to progress in his recovery from right elbow inflammation that sent him to the 10-day injured list May 11. He is moving through his hitting program, and the goal is for Barger to start a rehab assignment over the coming week, which could have him back with the Blue Jays by late June.
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Blue Jays' Addison Barger: Ramping up hitting program
Rotowire
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Monday that Barger (elbow) is "making progress" while continuing to ramp up his hitting at the team's complex in Florida, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Along with moving through a hitting progression, Barger has also been able to do some throwing. Barger is working his way back from a bout with right elbow inflammation, which sent him to the injured list May 11, just two days after he returned from a month-long stay on the shelf due to right and left ankle sprains.
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Blue Jays' Addison Barger: Resumes swinging bat
Rotowire
Barger (elbow) has been hitting in the batting cage at Toronto's complex in Dunedin, Florida, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Zwelling describes Barger's hitting sessions as "flips, tee work, etc." The slugger has missed most of the season to this point, first due to an IL stay following an ankle injury and then due to his current elbow issue. While Barger seems to be making progress in his recovery from the latter injury, he may require a minor-league rehab assignment before he's ready to be activated.
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Blue Jays' Addison Barger: Likely to resume throwing Thursday
Rotowire
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Wednesday that Barger (elbow) will resume throwing "probably [Thursday]," Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
Barger's recovery from right elbow inflammation has come along more slowly than expected, but he's poised to take a big step forward Thursday. He's already missed more than two weeks and could require a rehab assignment before returning to the Blue Jays' active roster.
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Blue Jays' Addison Barger: Not ready to throw yet
Rotowire
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Monday that Barger (elbow) is "probably still a couple days away from starting throwing," Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
The club had expressed hope that Barger could do some throwing Sunday, but Schneider said Barger's recovery from right elbow inflammation has "been a little slower" than anticipated. He's already been sidelined for more than two weeks, and with his recovery inching along there's no timetable at this point for Barger's return.
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Blue Jays' Addison Barger: Could resume hitting Sunday
Rotowire
The Blue Jays are hopeful Barger (elbow) will resume hitting and throwing Sunday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Barger dealt with bilateral discomfort in both ankles early in April before landing on the IL with a left ankle sprain April 7. He returned May 9, but then on May 10, right elbow soreness required an MRI and he was placed on the IL with inflammation May 11. If he gets the green light to resume baseball activities, it might not be long before he embarks on another rehab assignment, but so far this has been a lost season for Barger.
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Blue Jays' Addison Barger: Looking to ramp up activity
Rotowire
Barger (elbow) was in Toronto for a follow-up exam Monday, seeking the green light to start hitting and throwing Tuesday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Barger was a playoff standout for the Blue Jays last fall, slashing .367/.441/.583 in the postseason, but his 2026 campaign has been plagued by injuries so far. He first hurt his ankles in an awkward landing at first base in early April and returned for just one start before landing right back on the IL with right elbow inflammation. Barger seems eager to begin ramping up his activities, however, and the expectation is still that he will be a big part of the Toronto lineup when healthy.
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Blue Jays' Addison Barger: Back to IL with elbow inflammation
Rotowire
The Blue Jays placed Barger on the 10-day injured list Monday with right elbow inflammation.
Barger just returned to the active roster Friday after missing more than a month with injuries to both ankles. He played only one game for the Blue Jays before heading back on the IL with an elbow injury. The good news is Barger's elbow is fine structurally. He will receive a cortisone injection Monday to combat a joint and be shut down for 3-to-4 days, per Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca. It could be a short stay on the IL if all goes well. Yohendrick Pinango will take Barger's roster spot and should see regular work in the outfield versus righties.
Blue Jays' Addison Barger: Scratched with sore elbow
Rotowire
The Blue Jays scratched Barger from the starting nine for Sunday's game against the Angels due to a sore right elbow.
Barger had been slated to bat leadoff and start in right field in his second game back from the IL, but he'll end up hitting the bench while he tends to an injury that may have resulted from a 101.2 mph throw from right field Saturday that erased Jorge Soler at the plate and prevented a run. Ernie Clement is now in line to serve as Toronto's table setter in the series finale, while Myles Straw was a late addition to the starting outfield. After a month-long stint on the injured list due to left and right ankle sprains, Barger was activated Saturday and went 0-for-3 with two walks and a run scored in the Blue Jays' 14-1 victory.
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Blue Jays' Addison Barger: Headed for MRI
Rotowire
Barger will undergo an MRI on his right elbow after waking up Sunday with limited range of motion, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Barger was scratched from the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels due to right elbow soreness, which is a brutal development after he returned from the injured list Saturday following a month-long absence due to ankle injuries. The exact cause of the arm injury isn't known, but it's worth noting that the 26-year-old outfielder fired a 101.2-mph missile to throw out a runner at the plate Saturday. Barger seems unlikely to be in the lineup for Monday's series opener versus Tampa Bay, and his availability beyond that is also in question.
Blue Jays' Addison Barger: Makes impact on defense in return
Rotowire
Barger went 0-for-3 with two walks and a run scored in Saturday's 14-1 win over the Angels.
Making his return from a month-long stint on the IL due to sprains on both ankles, Barger wasn't able to get anything going with his bat, but he did make a stunning defensive play. With the game still scoreless in the second inning, Barger caught what should by all rights have been a sacrifice fly to right field, but instead he unleashed a throw at 101.2 mph that got Jorge Soler at the plate for an inning-ending double play -- the top velocity on any outfield assist in the majors this season, per Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. Barger batted second in the game, and that could become his usual spot in the lineup against right-handers as the Jays try to get him better pitches to hit by parking him in front of Vladimir Guerrero.
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Blue Jays' Addison Barger: Reinstated from IL
Rotowire
The Blue Jays reinstated Barger (ankle) from the injured list Saturday.
Barger has been sidelined by ankle issues since early April, but he's been playing in minor-league rehab games since Sunday. The 26-year-old went 2-for-9 with a pair of homers and three RBI during his three-game assignment and will now reclaim his role as Toronto's primary right fielder. Yohendrick Pinango was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo in a corresponding move.
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Blue Jays' Addison Barger: Activation likely Saturday
Rotowire
Manager John Schneider said Barger (ankle) is traveling to Toronto on Friday and will "most likely" be activated off the injured list Saturday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Barger was expected to come off the IL for Friday's series opener versus the Angels, but it appears the Blue Jays will give him a day to settle in before returning him to the active roster. The 26-year-old went 1-for-19 with three walks and six strikeouts in eight games prior to landing on the shelf. Barger is likely to take on a significant role now that he's healthy, with most of his starts likely to come in the outfield.
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