The Toronto Blue Jays (8-13) snapped their four-game losing skid with a win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday. Even so, it has been a difficult start to the 2026 MLB season for the reigning American League pennant winners.
The club sits at the bottom of the AL East and has been disrupted by injuries to several key players since Opening Day.
One of the most significant absences has been veteran outfielder George Springer. He fractured his left big toe after fouling a pitch off his foot in the third inning against the Minnesota Twins on April 11. Springer finished the at-bat but exited the game, and the injury has now kept him out of the lineup for seven straight games.
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The four-time All-Star has made steady progress since the setback. He began swinging in the visiting batting cages last week, taking flips and working off a tee.
On Monday, ahead of Toronto’s opener against the Los Angeles Angels, manager John Schneider said Springer has increased his activity level and is now throwing more while also expected to take part in “dynamic warmup and mobility stuff” (via Sportsnet’s Hazel Mae).
It is a positive development for a Blue Jays team that has been forced to navigate a stretched roster. The 2017 World Series MVP joined Toronto ahead of the 2021 season in free agency and has remained a key contributor both offensively and as a veteran presence.
In 2025, Springer played 140 games and hit .309 with 32 home runs, 84 RBIs and 106 runs scored. He also posted a .399 on-base percentage and played a central role in Toronto’s postseason run that ended with a World Series appearance.
The Blue Jays will be hoping for Springer’s swift return to health as they look to stabilize the top of their lineup and reinforce the outfield. For now, they will continue their push up the standings without him.
Their next test comes against the Angels, with first pitch scheduled for 9:38 p.m. Eastern time at Angel Stadium.
