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
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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
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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: 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: 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.
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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: 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: Expected back this week
Rotowire
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Monday that Barger (ankles) being activated from the 10-day injured list on Friday would be a "worst-case scenario,"Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
Barger slugged a home run in his first rehab game with Single-A Dunedin on Sunday and will suit up for the affiliate once again Tuesday. He could rejoin the Blue Jays after that and be activated as soon as Wednesday, but a return Friday for the start of a homestand seems likelier. Barger has been sidelined since early April after spraining both of his ankles.
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Blue Jays' Addison Barger: Homers in first rehab game
Rotowire
Barger (ankles) went 1-for-2 with a walk and a two-run home run while serving as the designated hitter in his first rehab game with Single-A Dunedin on Sunday.
The Blue Jays have not revealed their plans for Barger's rehab assignment, but Keegan Matheson of MLB.com suggests the likely plan is for Barger to fly north with the major-league club from Tampa on Wednesday night after he plays in a couple more games with Dunedin. Further, Matheson says Barger should be expected to slide right back into five starts per week for Toronto upon his return from the IL, despite the 26-year-old's 1-for-19 start before the injury.
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Blue Jays' Addison Barger: Progressing in recovery
Rotowire
Blue Jays manager John Schneider told reporters Monday that Barger (ankles) will start running Tuesday, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.
Barger continues to progress in his recovery from sprained left and right ankles, and he has done enough to be cleared to start running. He may not need to embark on a rehab assignment and could be back with the Blue Jays for the start of their homestand Friday against the Guardians.
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Blue Jays' Addison Barger: Resumes baseball activity
Rotowire
Barger (ankles) resumed baseball activity at the Blue Jays' complex in Florida this week and is expected to begin swinging the bat Friday or Saturday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Barger has played catch the last two days, and returning to hitting and running are the next steps in his recovery from sprained left and right ankles. Barger is expected to resume running Tuesday or Wednesday of next week and will go from there. While eligible to come off the injured list Friday, that doesn't appear to be a realistic target for Barger. Perhaps he'll be back with the Blue Jays for the start of their next homestand against the Guardians on Friday, April 24.
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Blue Jays' Addison Barger: Shut down through Monday
Rotowire
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Friday that Barger (ankles) will remain shut down from baseball activities through Monday's off day, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Barger is dealing with soreness in both ankles, though he's experiencing more discomfort in the left ankle. He is eligible to return from the 10-day injured list April 16, but given that he won't resume baseball activities until two days before that date, it's likely Barger will require more down time.
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Blue Jays' Addison Barger: May only miss minimum
Rotowire
Barger (ankle) might only miss the minimum 10 days on the injured list, MLB.com reports.
The 26-year-old sprained his left ankle after landing on first base awkwardly Sunday while attempting to beat out a grounder, and he was placed on the IL on Tuesday, retroactive to April 6. Barger has been off to a slow start at the plate, batting .053 (1-for-19) through eight games, so the time off could allow him to reset.
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Blue Jays' Addison Barger: Not in Tuesday's lineup
Rotowire
Barger (ankle) is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Dodgers.
Barger will sit Tuesday for a second straight game after exiting Sunday's matchup with the White Sox due to bilateral ankle discomfort. Manager John Schneider said Monday that the 26-year-old was "trending in the right direction" but couldn't rule out the possibility of a stint on the injured list. Nathan Lukes is starting in right field Tuesday for Toronto.
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Blue Jays' Addison Barger: Injury downplayed by manager
Rotowire
Manager John Schneider said Sunday he hopes Barger (ankles) is out for "just a day or two, or maybe not even a day," Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
He departed Sunday's game with bilateral ankle discomfort, with Schneider confirming Barger hurt both ankles on a play at first base early in Sunday's game. Schneider's comments suggest there's a chance Barger will return early this week. He should be considered day-to-day in the meantime.
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Blue Jays' Addison Barger: Taking seat again Wednesday
Rotowire
Barger is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rockies.
After sitting against right-handed starter Ryan Feltner on Tuesday, the left-handed-hitting Barger will remain on the bench for the series finale while southpaw Kyle Freeland takes the hill for Colorado. Jesus Sanchez will spell Barger in right field and will bat seventh.
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Blue Jays' Addison Barger: Makes history in Game 1 win
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Barger went 2-for-2 with a grand slam during Toronto's 11-4 victory in Game 1 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Friday.
Having already scored three runs in the sixth inning, Toronto was on the verge of taking full control of Friday's contest when Barger entered the game to hit for Davis Schneider. With the bases loaded, Barger slugged a 413-foot home run into center field off lefty Anthony Banda, marking the first pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history. The 25-year-old Barger has gone deep in two of his last three playoff games and is slashing .324/.405/.622 through 42 plate appearances in the postseason.
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Blue Jays' Addison Barger: Idle for Game 2
Rotowire
Barger is out of the lineup Sunday for Game 2 of the ALDS against the Yankees.
The left-handed-hitting Barger will dodge a matchup with southpaw Max Fried in Game 2. Ernie Clement will slide to third base while Isiah Kiner-Falefa plays second base Sunday.
