Story by
Blue Jays' John Schneider Shares Positive Update on Addison Barger's Surgery Recovery
- Story by
- Blue Jays' John Schneider Shares Positive Update on Addison Barger's Surgery Recovery
Addison Barger 's 2026 season officially came to an end on Monday after the Toronto Blue Jays outfielder underwent surgery on his right elbow. The 26-year-old had been sidelined since May after aggravating a lingering elbow issue and, despite hopes of a return later this season, the organization ultimately elected to proceed with surgery. It brings to a close what became an injury-riddled campaign after Barger appeared in just nine games, batting 1-for-22 (.045) with two RBIs.
The timing is especially disappointing given the current state of the Blue Jays. Toronto (48-58) sits 10 games behind .500 with 56 games left to play and has struggled to generate meaningful offense for much of the season.
Advertisement
Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Addison Barger (47) Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Fortunately for the club, the news following Monday's procedure was more encouraging than initially feared. Manager John Schneider revealed that Barger underwent a repair rather than a full ligament reconstruction, significantly shortening his recovery timeline.
"It was just a repair, so that's good news. It wasn't a full reconstruction, so that's like roughly six months."
Schneider added that the Blue Jays expect Barger to be fully recovered for next spring.
Advertisement
"He should be back to 100% with baseball activities come spring training" (h/t Hazel Mae of Sportsnet).
A full Tommy John reconstruction would likely have jeopardized the start of his 2027 season, but the internal repair procedure keeps him on track to participate fully in Spring Training.
Barger was one of the Blue Jays' standouts in 2025. He slashed .242/.301/.454 with 21 home runs, 74 RBIs and a .756 OPS across 135 regular-season games. He then batted .367 (22-for-60) with three home runs, nine RBIs and a 1.025 OPS in 17 postseason games, highlighted by the first pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history.
Advertisement
ALSO SEE:
The Blue Jays expected Barger to become one of the club's cornerstone contributors in 2026 before injuries struck. The organization will now look to ensure that one of its most promising young hitters completes his rehabilitation without setbacks and is ready to reclaim an everyday role next season.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jul 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
