Blue Jays Make Addison Barger Announcement Before Yankees Game
The Toronto Blue Jays are hoping Addison Barger can stay healthy long enough to build on what looked like a breakout campaign a year ago.
In 2025, he slashed .243/.301/.454 with 21 home runs, 74 RBIs and 31 doubles before elevating his game in October. During Toronto's run to the World Series, Barger hit .367 with three home runs, nine RBIs and a 1.025 OPS across 17 postseason games.
After appearing in 135 games during the 2025 season and emerging as one of Toronto's most productive young hitters, Barger entered this year expected to play a major role. Instead, injuries have limited him to just nine games.
Barger first landed on the injured list earlier this year with an ankle injury. After working his way back, he returned briefly before suffering another setback, this time involving inflammation in his right elbow. The Blue Jays have been deliberate with his recovery ever since, determined to avoid a third interruption.
Before Friday's series opener against the New York Yankees, manager John Schneider gave an encouraging update on the 26-year-old's recovery.
Barger is now throwing from 120 feet at Toronto's player development complex in Dunedin. Schneider added that Barger is taking regular batting practice and is expected to progress to hitting off pitching machines within the next few days. If that goes according to plan, a rehab assignment could begin by the middle or latter part of next week (h/t Thomas Hall of MLB.com).
Addison Barger has progressed to throwing from 120 feet down in Dunedin at the PDC, per Schneider. He's taking regular BP and will advance to hitting off pitching machines in "the next couple of days."
— Thomas Hall (@Hall_Thomas_) June 12, 2026
From there, Barger could move to rehab games mid to late next week. #BlueJays
The Blue Jays already welcomed Alejandro Kirk back from the injured list on Friday, although they will be without Daulton Varsho, who has been placed on the 10-day injured list. Getting Barger back would be a great development for a club that has not operated at full strength this season so far.
The Blue Jays open a three-game set against the Yankees on Friday before hosting the Boston Red Sox next week.
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This story was originally published June 12, 2026 at 6:48 PM.