The Toronto Blue Jays continue to battle through a frustrating wave of injuries well into the month of May. One of the most notable absences has been right fielder Addison Barger.
Barger has been sidelined since April 5 after injuring both ankles while sprinting to first base trying to beat out a ground ball against the Chicago White Sox. He was placed on the 10-day injured list on April 7 with a left ankle sprain.
Before the injury, Barger was hitting just .053 with two RBIs and one hit in eight games. Despite the slow start to the 2026 season, the Blue Jays still view him as a core piece and are eager to get Barger back. The 26-year-old had a strong breakout year in 2025, batting .243 with 112 hits, 21 home runs, 74 RBIs en route to the Blue Jays winning the American League pennant.
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But with Barger’s return now approaching, the Blue Jays face a difficult roster decision.
According to SportNet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith, manager John Shneider revealed that Barger is expected to be activated on Friday against the Los Angeles Angels. However, he also acknowledged it will be a tough call on which position player will be sent down to make room.
As things stand, the leading candidates to be sent down appear to be Davis Schneider, Lenyn Sosa, and Yohendrick Pinango. But all signs point to Schneider being the actual casualty when Barger returns.
Schneider has been struggling significantly at the plate, batting just .137 with seven hits in 27 games. And the Blue Jays already have several outfielders capable of playing left field, which further weakens his case to stay.
Barger’s impending return comes at a critical time. The Blue Jays are currently on a three-game losing streak and desperately need an offensive spark as they try to improve their standing in the competitive AL East.
Toronto returns to action on Wednesday for the series finale against the Tampa Bay Rays before opening a three-game series against the Angels in Anaheim on Friday.
