Trending Now - Berríos Out for Season Start Due to Elbow Stress Fracture
WHO:
José Berríos, pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays
John Schneider, manager of the Toronto Blue Jays
Dr. Keith Meister, specialist consulted by Berríos
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., player for the Toronto Blue Jays
Blue Jays organization
WHAT:
Berríos is currently pain- and symptom-free, and the hope is that he will be able to pitch through the stress fracture after a few days off from throwing.
Berríos is entering the fifth season of a seven-year, $131 million contract with the Blue Jays.
Berríos has a career total of 234 games started and 1,367.2 innings pitched since 2018, leading Major League Baseball in both categories during that time.
The Blue Jays owe Berríos $66 million over the next three seasons, and he can opt out of the final two years of his contract following the 2026 season.
Berríos has been diagnosed with a stress fracture in his right elbow.
Berríos will not be ready for the start of the 2026 season and will begin on the injured list (IL).
Berríos had a record of 9-5 with a 4.17 ERA in 31 appearances during the 2025 season.
Berríos did not pitch in the postseason during the Blue Jays' World Series run in 2025.
Guerrero went 8-for-18 (.444) with two home runs over five games in the World Baseball Classic (WBC).
WHERE:
The Blue Jays have signed Dylan Cease, Max Scherzer, and Cody Ponce in free agency this offseason.
Dunedin, Florida, where the Blue Jays' spring training camp is located.
WHEN:
The Blue Jays' season is set to begin on March 25th, 2026.
The diagnosis of Berríos was reported on March 18th, 2026.
The Blue Jays' season is set to begin early next week from March 18th, 2026.
WHY:
Berríos discovered inflammation in his elbow during a routine MRI for insurance purposes while hoping to play for Puerto Rico in the WBC.
The stress fracture may be the cause of the inflammation that led to Berríos being placed on the IL late in the 2025 season.
HOW:
Berríos underwent a routine MRI which revealed the inflammation and subsequent stress fracture.
Schneider indicated that Berríos can potentially pitch through the stress fracture with monitoring and caution.
(UPDATED March 18, 2026 19:25 UTC)
In a positive update for Blue Jays fans, pitcher José Berríos is currently pain- and symptom-free, with hopes that he can pitch through a stress fracture after a few days off from throwing. Berríos, who is entering the fifth season of a seven-year, $131 million contract, has started 234 games and pitched over 1,367 innings since 2018, leading Major League Baseball in both categories during that time. As the Blue Jays prepare for their season opener on March 25, they have also bolstered their roster by signing Dylan Cease, Max Scherzer, and Cody Ponce in free agency this offseason.
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(UPDATED March 18, 2026 17:25 UTC)
In a significant development for the Toronto Blue Jays, pitcher José Berríos has been diagnosed with a stress fracture in his right elbow and will start the 2026 season on the injured list. Berríos discovered the issue during a routine MRI while preparing to play for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, revealing inflammation that may have contributed to his late-season IL placement in 2025. Meanwhile, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. shined in the World Baseball Classic, going eight for eighteen with two home runs, as the Blue Jays gear up for their season opener next week in Dunedin, Florida.