The Toronto Blue Jays received another major setback amid the 2026 MLB season on Saturday after troubling details emerged surrounding Jose Berrios and his lingering elbow injury.
Sports broadcaster Hazel Mae reported on X that Berrios will undergo surgery on Wednesday with noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. Keith Meister. The operation will address an existing stress fracture in the pitcher’s right elbow, but the larger concern involves possible ligament damage.
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“Jose Berrios to have surgery Wednesday performed by Dr. Meister,” Mae wrote. “There is some concern about ligament – they’ll determine whether he’s done for season whether ligament needs repairing.”
Manager John Schneider confirmed Saturday that the team remains uncertain about the full extent of the injury. If ligament repair becomes necessary during surgery, Berrios could miss the remainder of the 2026 season.
The injury timeline has turned into a frustrating cycle for both the pitcher and the organization. Berrios first landed on the injured list after inflammation appeared during a pre-World Baseball Classic physical for Team Puerto Rico. Further testing later revealed the stress fracture.
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There was brief optimism during Berrios’ rehab assignment. On April 22, he delivered four scoreless innings for Single-A Dunedin while sitting comfortably in the mid-90s with his fastball. However, the recovery quickly unraveled during his May 3 start for Triple-A Buffalo.
Berrios struggled badly, allowing seven earned runs across 3.2 innings before reporting renewed elbow soreness afterward. The Blue Jays immediately shut him down from throwing, and follow-up imaging revealed additional inflammation and structural concerns.
The timing could not be worse for Toronto. The Blue Jays entered Saturday with a disappointing 19-25 record and have dropped seven of their last 10 games. Injuries continue crushing the starting rotation, with several key arms unavailable, including Max Scherzer and Shane Bieber.
Toronto’s offense has also failed to compensate for the pitching losses. While Vladimir Guerrero Jr. remains productive, several veteran contributors continue struggling at the plate.
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For the Blue Jays, the biggest concern now extends beyond 2026. Elbow injuries involving structural damage often carry long recoveries, and the organization may soon face difficult questions about Berrios’ long-term durability.
