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Blue Jays’ Varsho received cortisone injection in wrist, Bieber to make ‘one more’ Triple-A start, García ‘getting pretty close’
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Photo credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Thomas Hall
Jun 12, 2026, 18:00 EDTUpdated: Jun 12, 2026, 18:22 EDT
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The Toronto Blue Jays are crossing their fingers that it’ll be a minimum IL stint for Daulton Varsho, according to manager John Schneider.
Varsho, placed on the 10-day IL with left wrist inflammation, retroactive to June 10, prior to Friday’s series opener versus the New York Yankees, had been working hard behind the scenes — hitting off pitching machines — trying to get back in the lineup. But after not playing for a week, the club made the tough decision to shelve him for at least the next 10 days.
There is hope, however, that Varsho can return immediately after serving those 10 days.
The club’s injured centre-fielder was sent for a cortisone injection during Thursday’s off-day to help reduce the inflammation — considered more of an impingement, per Schendier — in his left wrist and now wears a brace. It only impacts him when he hits, which is why the organization kicked this can as far as it could before making a final call.
This isn’t necessarily a new ailment for Varsho, who said he’s been managing this type of thing on and off since his days with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Just to be safe, though, the Blue Jays had him undergo an MRI, which didn’t reveal any ligament or structural damage.
“Nothing like crazy wrong with the ligament or anything, but just was bothering him kind of as he got into that [swing] position. So hopefully the injection helps with that,” Schneider said.
Fortunately, this does appear to be a minor injury for Toronto’s most important outfielder. If he doesn’t end up missing too much time, he may be able to avoid a rehab assignment and simply return from the IL. But we’ll have to wait and see.
Centre-field duties in Varsho’s absence will be split between Nathan Lukes and Myles Straw, the latter of whom is drawing the start at that spot to begin this weekend’s AL East showdown against the Yankees.
Other notable injury updates during Schneider’s pre-game media availability:
  • Shane Bieber (elbow) is back in Toronto following Thursday’s five-inning rehab assignment in Buffalo; he’ll “probably do one more” to push his pitch count up closer to 70-75 pitches, and then that’ll likely be it. There isn’t an official date for what could be his final rehab start, but it’ll likely be Wednesday.
  • Yimi García (elbow), also back with the big-league club on Friday, will make his next Triple-A appearance on Saturday. There weren’t many alarm bells sounded internally after his velocity dipped last time out. But the club will be focused on seeing him return to form this time around. With his 30-day rehab clock expiring on June 29, we may only be talking about another few outings here. He’s “getting pretty close,” according to Schneider.
  • Addison Barger (elbow) continues to make steady progress down in Dunedin at the organization’s player development complex. He’s now up to throwing from 120 feet away and has been taking regular BP. The expectation is he’ll advance to hitting off pitching machines over the next couple of days. If all goes well, Barger could begin a rehab assignment by mid-to-late next week.

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