Blue Jays’ Berrios expected to miss at least 12 months after undergoing Tommy John surgery

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher José Berríos throws at spring training in Dunedin, Fla. on Feb. 12, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

NEW YORK — Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Jose Berrios will miss the rest of the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

The procedure was performed Wednesday, a team spokesman said. Elbow ligament replacement surgery typically requires at least a year of recovery time.

Dr. Keith Meister was scheduled to repair a stress fracture in Berrios’s elbow during the procedure and also evaluate possible ligament damage.

Berrios, 31, has not pitched in the major leagues this season. In November 2021, he signed a seven-year, US$131-million extension with the Blue Jays that runs through 2028.

Elbow inflammation was first detected during a routine MRI exam while Berrios was attempting to join Puerto Rico for the World Baseball Classic. A later examination revealed the stress fracture.

Berrios recently made four rehab starts at Triple-A Buffalo, but continued discomfort after his May 3 outing prompted another visit with Meister. He struggled during the rehab assignment, with a 10.67 ERA over 14 1/3 innings.

Last season, Berrios went 9-5 with a 4.17 ERA in 31 appearances for Toronto before landing on the injured list in September with elbow inflammation.

He missed the post-season as the Blue Jays fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.

Berrios made his big-league debut in 2016 with Minnesota. In 275 career regular-season games with the Twins and Blue Jays, he has a 108-82 record and 4.08 earned-run average.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 20, 2026.

— With files from The Associated Press