Three-Time Silver Slugger Is the Latest Addition to the 2026 Blue Jays Never-Ending Injured List

Just one day after being presented his 2025 Silver Slugger Award, Toronto’s designated hitter, George Springer, collapsed in pain after fouling a ball off his foot. He got up to finish his at-bat and jogged to first base for his groundout, but he was noticeably replaced by Myles Straw shortly after. The previous game was also a fan giveaway for his bobble-head representing his ALCS Game Seven walk-off home run that sent the Blue Jays to the 2025 World Series. Last season, the three-time Silver Slugger, Springer, hit 32 home runs and four more in the postseason. In addition, he posted a .399 AVG and a .959 OPS. In 2026, he got off to a bit of a slow start with a .189 AVG, a .661 OPS, and only two home runs, but it’s still early, and his success last year didn’t come without its challenges.

After his early exit from Saturday’s game, it was announced that he had fractured his left big toe. In the post-game press conference, manager John Schneider stated that’s what the x-rays suggested, but the CT scans Springer was getting at the time would reveal more information. He confirmed that the foul ball was the cause, in tandem with a similar incident from Friday’s game. Schneider couldn’t confirm how long the 36-year-old might be out, but did bring up that the three-time Silver Slugger has played through pain and injuries before. The Blue Jays manager also didn’t say who would take Springer’s DH spot in the meantime, but mentioned that it shouldn’t be hard for people to make educated guesses based on stats and the starters they will face. 

Springer’s injury couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Blue Jays. They started the season with three of their starting pitchers on the IL, and their bad luck didn’t stop with Opening Day. Signing Cody Ponce was one of many offseason moves the Blue Jays made, and his debut was tragically cut short when he got hurt making a routine play to first. On March 31st, the 2025 KBO MVP sprained his right ACL one out into the second inning. Toronto had not lost a game up to that point, but after Ponce was carted off the field, they fell to the Colorado Rockies 14-5. That day took a toll on the bullpen as well, and their fatigue bled into future games. The 31-year-old will undergo surgery on April 15th, keeping him out for six months, and likely ending his season. The best-case scenario is that he comes back for the postseason. 

Just five days later, catcher Alejandro Kirk fractured his left thumb when a foul tip hit the edge of his glove. He immediately walked off the field and was replaced by Tyler Heineman in the ninth inning. The backup was not prepared at all and was at fault for multiple plays that cost the Blue Jays. They ended up falling to the White Sox 5-4 in extra innings. Kirk underwent surgery this week and is expected to miss six weeks with a possible late-May return. This loss may be the worst one for Toronto so far. In Schneider’s words, “Kirky, around the game, is just an underrated player. What he can do on both sides of the ball is pretty unique. Whether it’s contact, home runs, catching, blocking, or throwing. One of Kirky’s superpowers is that he’s so steady. That is hard to do when you’re back there every day.” This team will not be the same without their starting catcher. 

That same weekend, Addison Barger left a game with bilateral ankle pain, later diagnosed as a left ankle sprain. His injury happened on a wobbly run over first base, causing him to leave the game early as well. Though he hasn’t contributed much yet this season, the 26-year-old is known for being a clutch player when needed. That weekend, starter Eric Lauer also caught the flu, which pushed his start back a day. This pushed up the need for Ponce’s replacement as well, leading to Mason Fluharty opening the game and Lazaro Estrada being pulled up from the minors to start. When Lauer finally did pitch, he clearly wasn’t 100% earning a 4.91 ERA and a loss after only two innings. A week later, he still seemed to struggle, letting seven runs in during the third inning. He chose to persevere through five and one-third innings, so the bullpen wasn’t as affected. Toronto only used one other pitcher during the game, Spencer Miles, so though they lost that game 7-4, hopefully the bullpen can now contribute to their first series win since the Athletics. Just to top it all off, Max Scherzer left his start on April 6th after only two innings due to right forearm tendinitis. That led to a loss so bad that a position player finished off pitching that day. Supposedly, the 41-year-old is confirmed for his next start, but only time will tell how much that injury truly affects him. 

Fortunately, the IL that started the season is almost ready to return to the Blue Jays. Trey Yesavage is set to be the first to come back. The 22-year-old has pitched multiple rehab games in Florida for the Low-A Dunedin Blue Jays. He is set to pitch one more minor league game, either in Florida or Buffalo, depending on the weather, before finally moving up to the majors. Shane Bieber, José Berríos, and Yimi García aren’t far behind either. Bieber threw off the mound for the third time, while Berríos is expected to move into Minor League rehab games at some point next week, and García will throw another side session, nearing rehab games. Though there is a lot for Blue Jays fans to stress over, there are positives as well. It’s still early in the season, and many of the injuries are likely due to the early spring weather. The 2025 World Series runner-ups still have plenty of time to make their 2026 run just as iconic, and it’s important to support them as they persevere through these hard times. A lot of these injuries are short-term, and fan favorites will be back on the field in no time as the weather warms.