Baseball

José Berríos Undergoes Tommy John Surgery, Faces Long Recovery for Blue Jays

by
Kenji Tanaka
May 20, 2026

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher José Berríos has undergone surgery to address a stress fracture in his elbow, but the procedure turned into a full Tommy John operation. Manager John Schneider confirmed the news to reporters on Wednesday afternoon, noting that the possibility of Tommy John surgery had been anticipated going into the operation. “Not ideal for him, not ideal for us,” Schneider remarked, reflecting the gravity of the situation.

Berríos, who missed last year’s postseason run due to injury, had not pitched this season after an MRI during spring training revealed the stress fracture. The Blue Jays had announced last week that he would undergo surgery to repair the injury, with concerns about potential ligament damage that would only be confirmed during the procedure.

The results indicated that a complete repair of his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) was necessary, leading to a lengthy recovery process ahead. Typically, pitchers face a 12-to-18 month rehabilitation timeline following Tommy John surgery, which means Berríos will be sidelined for an extended period.

At 31 years old, Berríos is in his sixth season with the Blue Jays. After two seasons of posting a 3.65 ERA or better, he experienced a downturn in performance during 2025, finishing the season with a 4.17 ERA and a 1.301 WHIP across 31 games, during which he recorded 138 strikeouts and 56 walks in 166 innings. The Blue Jays even moved him to the bullpen for a brief stint on September 24 after he had made 30 starts, but he ultimately ended the season on the injured list and did not participate in the team’s postseason efforts.

The Blue Jays, currently off to a 21-27 start this season after winning the AL East and coming within one game of a World Series title last year, will now have to navigate the challenges of the season without Berríos. A two-time All-Star with the Minnesota Twins, he is under a seven-year, $131 million contract that runs through the 2028 season.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.

Kenji Tanaka

Kenji Tanaka is an experienced sports journalist who brings an analytical approach to his coverage of baseball and martial arts. With a deep respect for tradition and a keen interest in the evolving dynamics of sports, Kenji's work reflects a balance between reverence for the past and excitement for the future. At 21Sports.com, his articles are a blend of rich cultural insights and sharp analysis. In his free time, Kenji enjoys practicing kendo and exploring culinary adventures.