News: Addison Barger will undergo surgery on his right elbow. This could be a full Tommy John, which would come with an estimated 9-month rehab and cut into next season. If only an internal brace procedure is needed, that’s estimated closer to 6 months. #BlueJays
Blue Jays’ Addison Barger set to undergo season-ending elbow surgery
Photo credit: © Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Jul 24, 2026, 17:24 EDTUpdated: Jul 24, 2026, 17:32 EDT
Addison Barger’s frustrating 2026 regular season is set to come to a close.
On Friday, MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson reported that Barger will undergo right elbow surgery on Monday, ultimately ending his comeback attempt.
While the extent of the procedure is not yet known, a full Tommy John surgery would cost Barger nine months of rehab and recovery, whereas an internal brace procedure would put the 26-year-old’s recovery closer to six months.
After coming off a 2025 season with the Toronto Blue Jays, in which he batted .243 with 21 home runs and 74 RBIs, Barger was expected to play a key role in bringing offence to the Blue Jays’ lineup. Unfortunately for Barger, his season ends after he played in just nine games. Over his nine games, Barger went 1-for-22, good for a .045 average, and drove in only two runs.
Barger was first placed on the 10-day injured list on April 7 with a left ankle sprain after stepping awkwardly on first base while trying to beat out an infield single during a 3-0 loss to the Chicago White Sox. The injury cost Barger over a month on the shelf, but the hope was his return could boost a Blue Jays team that sat at 17-20 upon his activation.
The Blue Jays activated him on May 9, and his impact was felt right away. In the second inning, during a 14-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels, Barger unleashed a cannon from right field to throw out Jorge Soler at the plate, ending the inning with a 9-2 double play. The next day, after originally being in the lineup, Barger was scratched with right elbow soreness, and wound up on the IL once again on May 11.
In late June, Barger was scheduled to begin a rehab assignment, but had that process come to a halt after manager John Schneider revealed that he suffered a stress reaction in his back, and would be re-evaluated in a couple of weeks.
Now, just about a month later, Barger’s season will come to a close. In what has been an all-around frustrating campaign for many within the Blue Jays’ organization, the hope is Barger can return to the form he flashed in 2025 when the 2027 baseball season gets underway.
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