(AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)
The Toronto Blue Jays suffered another major setback to their pitching staff after veteran starter José Berríos underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, a procedure expected to sideline him through all of 2026 and likely into the 2027 season.
Manager John Schneider said Toronto initially hoped Berríos would only require a less invasive procedure to address a stress fracture and remove loose bodies in the elbow. However, surgeons discovered additional damage during the operation that made a full ligament reconstruction necessary.
Surgery Delivers Difficult Outcome For Toronto
Berríos, 31, entered spring training appearing healthy despite missing the Blue Jays’ World Series run last season because of elbow inflammation. He opened the year on the injured list with a stress fracture and struggled during four rehab appearances, posting a 10.67 ERA while experiencing declining velocity and lingering discomfort.
Schneider said the unexpected development created frustration for both the organization and the pitcher.
Since Toronto acquired Berríos from the Minnesota Twins in 2021, he had become one of the club’s most dependable starters and a fixture atop the rotation. Across the last seven full MLB seasons, only Berríos and Patrick Corbin made at least 30 starts each year.
The right-hander owns a 53-39 record with a 4.09 ERA since joining Toronto and signed a seven-year contract extension shortly after arriving.
Rotation Injury Problems Continue To Grow
Berríos’ absence deepens what has already become a difficult season for Toronto’s pitching staff.
Shane Bieber has yet to make his season debut because of forearm issues, while Cody Ponce suffered a season-ending knee injury in his first outing of the year. Bowden Francis already underwent Tommy John surgery earlier this season, and Max Scherzer has also missed significant time because of forearm and ankle injuries.
Toronto entered the season believing it possessed one of its deepest rotations in years, but injuries have quickly reshaped those plans.
The Blue Jays entered Wednesday at 21-27 and sitting 11½ games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East, with Berríos now becoming the latest key arm lost for the foreseeable future.
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