Insurance issues put Blue Jays pitcher's WBC aspirations on hold for a second time

It was a weird day for José Berrios. The Toronto Blue Jays right-hander thought he was heading to the World Baseball Classic to suit up for Team Puerto Rico. The 31-year-old had made his intentions clear early in the New Year that he wanted to play for his national team but unfortunately, he didn't get insured to go play for the start of the tournament.

Then on Tuesday, Puerto Rican manager Yadier Molina told reporters that Berrios did get cleared to join them. He said, "Yes. We got the news today," making Berrios eligible for the second round, with Puerto Rico already earning a birth to the knockout stage earlier in the week.

However, later that day, the teams GM, Carlos Beltran, said that that was in fact not the case at all and that Berrios was still unable to join the team in the quarter-finals. Shi Davedi reported that Berrios did not get insurance approved, putting his WBC dreams on hold once again.

Insurance issues put Blue Jays pitcher's WBC aspirations on hold for a second time

The back-and-forth decisions must be frustrating for Berrios who was looking to be part of his fourth WBC. But it could be a blessing in disguise as Berrios has had very few positive results at the tournament. His first appearance came in 2013 when he was just 19-years-old. He pitched in two games that year, getting two innings of work, allowing four runs on five hits with one strikeout.

He was back in 2017 and once again pitched in two games, with 6.1 total innings pitched. He allowed only three hits, but gave up six earned runs, including two home runs and walking two. He did, however, rack up ten strikeouts during those outings. His last appearance was in 2023 and he lasted just one inning, giving up five earned runs on five hits, including a home run.

Berrios is also trying to solidify his spot in the Blue Jays starting rotation. After a 2025 season that had it's fair share of challenges, both on and off the field for Berrios, the longest tenured Blue Jays pitcher would love to get back on track and just focus on doing what he does best, and that's getting outs for the Blue Jays.

After a disastorous 2022 season, Berrios bounced back with two really good years in which he posted a combined 4.8 bWAR with a 3.63 ERA, striking out 337 batters in 382 innings pitched, accumulating a 1.170 WHIP. It looked like he was on track to having that kind of season again in 2025. Outside of his Opening Day start in which he gave up six runs in five innings, Berrios pitched to a 2.88 ERA in 16 games between April 1 and June 27. Hitters managed a .264 BABIP against while he struck out 84 batters in 97 innings.

But from July 2 onwards he wasn't getting any of the results he desired. He pitched to a 5.63 ERA in 64 innings pitched, giving up 14 home runs. Hitters were seeing everything he was throwing with a .303 BABIP against. He was demoted from the rotation to the bullpen, left off the playoff roster, and then went home during the Blue Jays' run to the World Series.

Berrios has since come out and taken ownership of that bad decision and looking to put it behind him, he's come out and posted good results so far in spring. In 10.2 innings pitched, he has seven strikeouts, has allowed four earned runs and has steadily increased the velocity and movement on his pitches, something that was diminishing toward the end of 2025.

So while he may be dissapointed in not being able to play in the WBC, he's now got one singluar focus, and that's on being at his best when the Blue Jays season begins.