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Blue Jays injury updates: Kirk inching closer to rehab assignment, Scherzer to face live hitters, Barger hasn’t begun throwing progression yet and more
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Photo credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images
Thomas Hall
May 25, 2026, 19:30 EDTUpdated: May 25, 2026, 19:18 EDT
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Alejandro Kirk could head out on a rehab assignment in the next week or so.
The 27-year-old Kirk, sidelined since early April due to a fractured left thumb, continues to make progress in Toronto after rejoining the Blue Jays over the weekend. He had previously been recovering at the player development complex in Dunedin, Fla., where he began his running, throwing and catching progressions.
He’ll remain with the team through the remainder of this current homestand, which concludes with Wednesday’s series finale against the Miami Marlins, manager John Schneider revealed on Monday. Before the game, the All-Star backstop ran the bases and threw from behind home plate while also hitting in the batting cages.
The club remains encouraged about Kirk’s progress thus far, but he still needs to hit off pitching machines and face live pitching before re-entering game action. He’s been cleared for everything else, though. That includes catching, as Schneider said he’s already game-ready to resume his catching duties.
Other pre-game injury notes from Schneider’s media availability:
  • Max Scherzer (forearm/ankle) is scheduled to face live hitters for the first time since hitting the injured list on Wednesday at the Rogers Centre. If all runs smoothly, the 41-year-old hurler could begin building up as a starter again, likely on a rehab assignment.
  • Addison Barger (elbow) isn’t ready to begin a throwing progression quite yet, according to Schneider, saying, “[he’s] probably still a couple of days away.” Things are running a bit slower than expected as his soreness dissipates.
  • Yimi García (elbow) will throw another live BP session at the PDC on Tuesday. Once completed, there’s optimism that he can soon resume his rehab assignment after reporting discomfort following his FCL outing on May 7.
  • Tommy Nance (forearm) and Joe Mantiply (knee) are due to begin throwing progressions in Toronto “in the next day or two,” per Schneider. The hope is that both will be able to return after the minimum 15-day IL placement.
  • Jake Bloss (UCL surgery) will make another single-A rehab start this weekend. The club plans to keep him on his current schedule of five days of rest between outings, aligning his next start for this Saturday. He’s coming off his most impressive performance of 2026, pitching four innings of one-run ball with five strikeouts.

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