It has been an unfortunate season for Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Addison Barger. The 26-year-old broke out during the 2025 season and was a major reason the Blue Jays reached the World Series.
Across 135 games, Barger posted a .243 batting average, .301 on-base percentage, .756 OPS, 21 home runs and 74 RBIs.
The Blue Jays were hoping that power stroke would continue in 2026. Unfortunately, he has played in just nine games due to three separate injuries. First, Barger suffered a left ankle sprain just eight games into the season while attempting to beat out a ground ball to first base.
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After a month-long recovery, Barger returned to action in early May. Unfortunately, he played just one game against the Los Angeles Angels before feeling discomfort in his right throwing elbow.
He landed right back on the 10-day injured list with right elbow inflammation. After another lengthy rehab process, he had finally begun approaching a rehab assignment and resuming baseball activities. Then last week, he suffered yet another setback after an MRI revealed a stress reaction in his back.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider delivered an update on Barger's progress ahead of Friday's series opener against the Seattle Mariners, the first update since the new injury became apparent.
Schneider announced that Barger will officially be out until at least the All-Star break and revealed that Barger has also left the team to continue his rehab back at the organization's facility in Florida alongside Yimi Garcia and Jesus Sanchez (h/t Hazel Mae of Sportsnet). He also did provide a positive update on his condition, revealing that Barger has began running and hitting in the batting cage.
While this is not a total surprise given the circumstances, it is still disappointing to see Barger out of the lineup consistently. Toronto has missed his power presence every day and has felt the lack of production without him, entering Friday at 41-46 and out of a playoff sport.
