Addison Barger remains out, and John Schneider said the Blue Jays hitter is a couple days behind in starting baseball work.
That changed the tone around his return right away. Instead of beginning baseball activities earlier in the week, Barger is now expected to start that work this weekend in Toronto with the club.
It is not a massive setback, but it is still an unfortunate one for a lineup that needs left-handed thump back in the mix. Once a player gets described as «a little bit slower» and «a couple days behind,» the calendar matters.
Barger went back on the 10-day injured list on May 11 with right elbow inflammation. That came only 2 days after he returned from an earlier absence tied to an ankle injury.
That is what makes this stretch so frustrating for Toronto. Barger first hurt his ankles on an awkward landing at first base in early April, worked his way back, then got pulled right back off the active roster after just 1 start.
The elbow issue turned this from a simple comeback into a stop-and-start grind. Toronto had hoped to get him cleared for hitting and throwing earlier, but that green light did not come as fast as expected.
That matters because Barger is not some fringe bench piece when healthy. The expectation around him is still that he will be a big part of the Blue Jays lineup once he is right.
Why Addison Barger's slower timeline matters
Starting baseball activities is the checkpoint that starts moving everything else. Hitting, throwing, and on-field work come before any rehab assignment, so a weekend start pushes the rest of the process back with it.
Toronto also has reason to be careful here. Barger has already gone through 2 injury interruptions in the same season, and rushing a hitter with an elbow problem just to save a few days would be reckless.
There is also a larger offensive angle. Barger was a playoff force last fall, slashing .367/.441/.583 in the postseason, and the Blue Jays have been waiting for that kind of impact bat to get healthy again.
Now the focus shifts to what the weekend looks like in Toronto. If Barger starts baseball activities cleanly and feels normal, the delay stays small and the club can begin thinking about rehab at-bats.
But this update still lands as a step back from where things were tracking a few days ago. The Blue Jays were hoping for a faster ramp, and instead they are back waiting on the first stage of it.
That is why the news stings a little. Addison Barger is not shut down, and he is not starting over, but his return is taking longer than expected, and for a club chasing offense, even a few extra days matter.
Should the Blue Jays stay cautious with Addison Barger even if it delays his return?
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