Another ill-timed injury hits Blue Jays just as this bat was starting to come to life

For the Toronto Blue Jays to have the chance of repeating their success from 2025, they will need some of their key break out players that from last season to continue that performance. Among those players was a rising star in Addison Barger, who slowly but surely cemented himself into the Blue Jays’ everyday lineup by the end of the 2025 season.

However, the bat of Barger had struggled coming out of the gate for Toronto in 2026, as the 26-year-old went hitless with six strikeouts in 13 at-bats in his first five games of the year. Nevertheless, after Blue Jays manager John Schneider gave him a much-needed reset earlier this past week, the Blue Jays outfielder has started to come to life in his recent games following that rough opening week stretch. But that may all be on hold for the time being as Barger was removed from Sunday's finale due to an injury.

Barger leaves the game early as Blue Jays get swept by the White Sox

The Blue Jays' series against the Chicago White Sox did not go the way they had hoped. Not only did they get swept, but the Blue Jays lost a key player in Alejandro Kirk in the series opener, after a left thumb fracture, and subsequently, could be without Barger for a couple of days. During the third inning of Sunday's game (Apr. 5) Barger hit a ball up the middle that looked like it was going to get through, but rookie shortstop Tanner Murray made a fantastic play up the middle to snag the grounder and turn and fire it to first to get Barger.

Barger was trying to beat out the play and as he extended his legs toward the bag, he hit the base awkwardly and came up limping for a few steps after getting past first. Barger stayed in the game for a few innings, but in the bottom of the sixth, Jésus Sánchez came in as a defensive replacement as Barger was removed to what the team is calling "bilateral ankle discomfort."

After the game, Schneider told reporters that it will likely require just a few days of rest, but at the rate the injuries have been piling up this season for the Blue Jays, a few days would be a welcomed sigh of relief.

It is unfortunate timing for Barger who, this past Friday, registered his first hit of the 2026 MLB season, a double to right field, and would later score his first run of the year as well the very same inning. More importantly, he was establishing hard contact once again as two of his batted balls eclipsed 100 mph in terms of exit velocity.

Barger would get another day rest on Saturday, but came in to pinch hit for Myles Straw in the ninth inning. He would draw a well-earned walk to help start up a potential rally for the Blue Jays. But with the tying run at the plate, Toronto would fall short as George Springer would strike out and Nathan Lukes would ground out to first to end the game.

For the Blue Jays to be a sustainable offensive threat going forward, they will need the 2025 breakout version of Barger to resurface soon. After all, he ranked sixth on the team in hits (112), fifth in RBIs (74), fourth in doubles (32) and third in home runs (21) last year for Toronto. Moreover, Barger was projected to be a key player slotting higher up in the Blue Jays’ batting order this season and become one of their main offensive contributors as a result.