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Addison Barger is poised to be an X-factor for the Blue Jays in 2026
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Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Ben Wrixon
Nov 28, 2025, 09:00 ESTUpdated: Nov 27, 2025, 22:38 EST
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Addison Barger is just scratching the surface of his immense potential. 
The 26-year-old just finished his first full MLB season with the Blue Jays, cashing in 21 home runs, 74 RBIs, and a .756 OPS (105 OPS+). He accrued 2.2 fWAR while splitting time between third base and right field, embodying the Blue Jays’ defensive versatility. 
Barger saved his best baseball for the postseason. He slugged two home runs against the Seattle Mariners in the ALCS, then slashed an eye-popping .480/.536/.680 in the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. His historic pinch-hit grand slam in Game 1 of the Fall Classic is a signature moment baseball fans will never forget. 
He can’t and won’t hit at the level he did in the World Series for a full season — but that doesn’t mean his performance isn’t a sign of good things to come in 2026. 
Barger has the raw physical tools to be an impact player. He consistently makes hard contact at the plate thanks to his elite bat speed. His 91.7 mph average exit velocity last year ranked in the 86th percentile, while his 51% hard-hit rate was in the 91st percentile. 
Defensively, Barger’s best tool is his elite arm strength. It’s an asset whether he’s playing third base or the outfield, as many baserunners learned the hard way. However, which of the two becomes his permanent position is a question that still needs to be answered. While the eye test and highlight reel suggest Barger is a better outfielder than an infielder, the data says otherwise. He recorded +1 defensive runs saved and zero outs above average as a third baseman in 2025, compared to -4 in each category as a right fielder. 
Barger also flashed some streaky tendencies as a hitter last season. 
He excelled from the beginning of May through the end of July, then slumped to a .583 OPS in August and hit just .197/.293/.394 in September. He returned to form when it mattered most, but looked overmatched during those two months. 
Barger’s process during his slump was better than it may have seemed; his walk rate was up, and his strikeout rate was down during August and September compared to the season’s first three months. The issue was that his groundball rate rose from 39.6% through the end of July to 47.6% while his soft-contact percentage increased from 15.2% to 20.2%. 
Pitchers unquestionably adjusted to Barger and began using his aggressiveness at the plate against him, but it’s fair to wonder if the wear and tear that comes with playing a full MLB season might have just worn him down — especially considering how well he rebounded in the playoffs, where the schedule includes more off-days. 
Ultimately, the sky is the limit for Barger in 2026 if he can better withstand the marathon that is a 162-game MLB season and stick at one position defensively. What he showed in the World Series could be a preview of greatness to come.

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