Berríos out until 2027 after full Tommy John surgery, leaving Blue Jays rotation in crisis
José Berríos underwent surgery on his right elbow and will miss the remainder of the 2026 season. He faces 12 to 18 months on the sidelines.
José Berríos is facing the longest layoff of his career. The Puerto Rican right‑hander for the Toronto Blue Jays has undergone a full Tommy John surgery, a procedure that will sideline him for 12 to 18 months and strip Toronto of one of its most durable and reliable starters of the past decade.
Manager John Schneider confirmed the news Wednesday, days after Berríos met with noted elbow specialist Keith Meister to evaluate the right‑elbow injury that has kept him out since the start of the 2026 season.
José Berríos has undergone full Tommy John surgery, John Schneider announced.
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 20, 2026
Berríos is facing a 12-18 month recovery. pic.twitter.com/qYTp3AjAv6
A durability machine suddenly breaks down
For nearly a decade, Berríos built his reputation on consistency. From 2017 to 2025, he logged 275 appearances, almost all as a starter, and threw more than 1,570 innings — earning him the clubhouse nickname La Makina.
But the first warning signs appeared in 2025.
- In September 2025, Toronto shifted him to the bullpen after several rough outings.
- Soon after, elbow inflammation surfaced — the first significant injury of his MLB career.
- During 2026 spring training, Berríos admitted he had been feeling physical doubts since the previous season.
- A medical exam tied to the World Baseball Classic revealed a stress fracture in his right elbow.
Toronto initially tried to avoid the surgery option. Berríos began rehab and even pitched in Triple‑A Buffalo in May. But his velocity dipped, discomfort returned, and further testing made the decision unavoidable.
A more complicated surgery than expected
According to the Blue Jays, the stress fracture irritated the elbow ligament, ultimately requiring a complete reconstruction.
“Since he arrived, he’s always been reliable and steady,” Schneider said. “It’s strange not having him here.”
His absence hits a rotation already stretched thin:
- Cody Ponce is out for the season
- Shane Bieber still hasn’t debuted in 2026
- Max Scherzer remains sidelined with forearm tendinitis
Toronto has been forced to patch innings together with long relievers and temporary call‑ups.
A tale of two halves
Berríos’ last full season showed both promise and decline:
- 30 starts
- 4.06 ERA overall
- 3.26 ERA in his first 17 starts
- 5.37 ERA in his final 13
Across his MLB career, he has made 273 starts, posted a 4.08 ERA, and struck out more than 1,480 hitters.
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