Addison Barger's road back to the Toronto Blue Jays just got longer, and the latest update isn't encouraging.
Barger hasn't started any physical activity yet, still working through both elbow and back issues that have kept him out since well before the break.
Toronto's file on him already had him targeted to be out until at least August 10 with the elbow problem alone, and this update suggests that timeline could keep slipping.
Barger has appeared in just 10 games this season, hitting .045 with a single extra-base hit across 22 at-bats, a tiny sample that reflects how little he's actually been on the field in 2026.
That limited playing time creates its own separate problem once he's finally healthy enough to return.
Since he's barely played at all this year, Barger will need real build-up time once activity does begin, likely several weeks before he's ready for big league at-bats again.
That's a rough combination, a player dealing with multiple issues at once and a body that hasn't seen game reps in months.
Why the ramp-up matters as much as the injury itself
Toronto's offense has needed every available bat this season, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer both well below their usual production for most of the year.
Losing Barger for an extended stretch removes another potential answer for a lineup manager John Schneider has openly said needs more thump from top to bottom.
Elbow and back issues together complicate a rehab process in ways a single injury usually doesn't, since one area healing doesn't guarantee the other is ready at the same time.
It's a bit like trying to fix two leaks in the same pipe at once, patching one only to find the other still needs attention before anything holds.
Does Toronto realistically build its second-half plans assuming Barger doesn't factor in at all, or is there still a path back before the season ends?
For now, the update is more waiting, and any real timeline depends on when he can actually start moving again without setbacks.
Do you think Addison Barger returns to the Blue Jays at all this season?
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