Blue Jays injury update: Scherzer’s thumb, reliever arm issues, and Springer crashing into the wall

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Apr 6, 2025, 10:00 EDTUpdated: Apr 6, 2025, 07:59 EDT

Even before getting into the thick of the new season, the Blue Jays have already put down a few names on the injured list.

Most of the injured players are pitchers, adding additional pressure on the somewhat volatile pitching depth. So, how are the injured players doing, and when can we expect them to return either to the majors or the farm system?

Below is a list of players who are currently injured and are hoping to make a comeback.

Angel Bastardo, RHP

Angel Bastardo is the Blue Jays’ Rule 5 pick from the Boston Red Sox this offseason and a starting pitcher on the 40-man roster. Currently, Bastardo is on a 60-day injured list after undergoing Tommy John surgery mid-summer last year and isn’t expected to return until September, where he will have to be added to the big league roster per the Rule 5 guidelines.

Ryan Burr, RHP

Reliever Ryan Burr has been on the 15-day injury list with right shoulder inflammation since March 27, retroactive to March 24. Burr doesn’t have a confirmed return date other than the rough estimate of mid to late April.

According to MLB, the righty is throwing on flat ground around 105 feet but doesn’t have a scheduled mound session but is not far behind fellow reliever Erik Swanson (more on him later).

Alek Manoah, RHP

Former Cy Young finalist Alek Manoah has been on the injured list since last summer and is still recovering from a hybrid Tommy John surgery. As it stands, the right-hander is slated to return sometime in August.

Keegan Matheson, Blue Jays beat reporter at MLB.com, also reported that he threw a bullpen session on March 14, which is the first time since his surgery on June 17, 2024.

Max Scherzer, RHP

The two-time World Series champion and future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer had been battling his thumb injury since spring training. Unfortunately, the 40-year-old started headed to the 15-day injured list on March 30 with right thumb inflammation, leaving his start after three innings while trying to battle through the problem.

Ben Nicholson-Smith

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Max Scherzer got a cortisone shot in his right thumb to reduce swelling and pain. Now day to day with next steps to be determined based on how he feels. Timeline unclear as of now.

8:30 PM · Apr 1, 2025

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He is projected to miss more than two starts, and while he was slated to play catch on Friday, manager John Schneider said that plan is on hold for now. Now, Toronto’s hope is for Scherzer to play catch sometime during the 10-game road trip to see how the cortisone shot he received last week is helping his thumb or not.

Erik Swanson, RHP

One of the key bullpen contributors, Erik Swanson, has had a rough start to the new season once again with median nerve entrapment.

He’s been on the 15-day injured list since March 27, retroactive to March 24, much like Burr. Since then, Swanson has thrown a bullpen session in Dunedin, Florida, on Friday and is eyeing a comeback in late April. His return could bolster the relief pitching core, should he find his way back to his prime form.

Ricky Tiedemann, LHP

Ricky Tiedemaan, one of the top prospects in the Blue Jays system, underwent Tommy John surgery in July 2024 and has been gradually on the mend. This isn’t the first time the left-hander has struggled with injuries, but so far, this surgery recovery will serve as a test to his overall health and ability to rebound from a setback.

The most optimistic outlook is a later 2025 return, but it’s most likely that the southpaw will return in 2026. He joins a long list of prospects who likely return late in 2025 or early next season, such as Landen Maroudis, Nolan Perry, Chad Dallas, and Brandon Barriera.

Daulton Varsho, OF

Outfielder Daulton Varsho began the season on the injured list after undergoing right rotator cuff surgery this past offseason. On record, Varsho has been on the 10-day injured list since March 27, retroactive to March 24, much like other players on the injured list. He took at-bats and worked as the DH for the Jays this spring but the club decided to put him on the IL and wait for him to be fully healthy before bringing him back to the big leagues.

MLB reported that the Gold-Glove-winning outfielder is now throwing up to 150 feet and is working to get past 180 feet so the Blue Jays can start tracking his velocities. At this point, the outfielder is expected to return in mid-April.

George Springer, OF

Last night against the Mets, George Springer was tracking a fly ball towards deep right field when he slammed into the wall, coming down in a heap of pain. He would leave the field with manager John Schneider and the Blue Jays training staff, and the club is reporting that he is dealing with back spasms at this time. It is too early to tell if this could lead to a longer IL stint or if a couple of days of rest will be all that is needed, but it appears the Jays may have caught a break on the Springer injury front.