The Toronto Blue Jays have been piecing together their roster throughout April, and Sunday brought them one step closer to full strength.
Right fielder Addison Barger officially began a rehab assignment with Single-A Dunedin on Sunday, the team announced, marking his first game action since suffering a left ankle injury nearly four weeks ago. The Dunedin Blue Jays confirmed the move on social media Sunday morning.
Barger went down April 5 during a 3-0 loss to the Chicago White Sox, landing awkwardly on first base while attempting to beat out a ground ball. He sprained both ankles on the play and was placed on the 10-day injured list on April 7.
The 26-year-old was off to a rough start before the injury, with just one hit in eight games, slashing .053/.174/.105 with no home runs and two RBIs for a .279 OPS. Still, the sample size is too small to draw a conclusion.
His 2025 season has shown the caliber of player he can be. Last season, he slashed .243/.301/.454 with 21 home runs, 74 RBIs and a .756 OPS over 135 games while helping Toronto reach the World Series, its first since 1993. He then elevated his game in the postseason with a .367 batting average, three home runs, nine RBIs and a 1.025 OPS.
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Manager John Schneider has said Barger’s rehab starts could last a couple of games or more, depending on how he feels. Per Keegan Matheson of MLB.com, he is expected to return during the Blue Jays' next home stand, which opens May 8 against the Los Angeles Angels.
Toronto enters Sunday at 16-17, six games back of the first-place New York Yankees, steadily making progress in the American League East. Getting Barger back into an everyday role gives Toronto a power bat it has clearly been missing.
