The Blue Jays can’t catch a break with Addison Barger, and Monday’s update from John Schneider made that crystal clear. The manager told reporters that Barger is “probably still a couple days away from starting throwing” and admitted “it’s been a little slower with him” as Toronto prepares to face the Marlins.
That’s not what anyone wanted to hear about a player the organization was counting on as a cornerstone piece this season.
Addison Barger is “probably still a couple days away from starting throwing” per manager John Schneider. “It’s been a little slower with him.”
The 26-year-old infielder has appeared in just nine games this season, turning what should’ve been a breakout follow-up campaign into a medical mystery. It started back on April 5 when Barger injured both ankles trying to beat out a ground ball against the White Sox. The awkward landing sent him straight to the IL and derailed Toronto’s early-season plans.
When he finally returned on May 10, there was genuine optimism that the lineup was getting one of its most dangerous left-handed bats back.
That optimism lasted about 48 hours.
Barger got scratched shortly afterward and went back on the IL with right elbow inflammation. Now the recovery process seems to be dragging longer than expected, which only cranks up the pressure on a Blue Jays team that’s already fighting to stay relevant in the AL East.
The timing couldn’t be worse when you consider what Barger brought to the table last season. He hit .243 with 21 home runs and 74 RBIs across 135 games, establishing himself as one of Toronto’s key offensive contributors. His postseason production raised his profile even more after batting .367 with three homers and nine RBIs during the Blue Jays’ World Series run.
Toronto simply hasn’t been able to replace that production consistently.
What makes this situation even more concerning is that the injury bug isn’t just biting Barger. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. exited Sunday’s loss after taking a pitch off his right elbow, adding another layer of anxiety for the organization. Pitcher Dylan Cease also dealt with mild hamstring discomfort during the same game.
At 25-28, the Blue Jays are still close enough to stay in the postseason conversation, but the margin for error keeps shrinking. The longer Barger remains sidelined, the harder it becomes to ignore how much this lineup misses his presence in the middle of the order.
The way I see it, Toronto’s heading into this Miami series searching for answers and hoping this latest Barger setback doesn’t become another lingering problem that defines their season. They need him back, and they need him back soon if they’re going to make any real noise in what’s shaping up to be a competitive AL East race.
All things considered, it’s a situation worth monitoring closely as the Blue Jays try to piece together their roster and their season.
