DUNEDIN, FL — In the midst of a season defined by “Next Man Up,” few players embody the Blue Jays’ resilient spirit better than Addison Barger. After a breakout 2025 campaign that saw him finish third on the team in home runs and hit a historic pinch-hit grand slam in the World Series, Barger’s 2026 season was cruelly interrupted by a severe ankle sprain on Easter Sunday. However, the 25-year-old infielder/outfielder reached a major milestone in his recovery on Wednesday: he has officially resumed running drills.
The scene in Dunedin was one of quiet progress. Barger was seen performing linear running drills on the grass under the watchful eye of the team’s training staff. While he isn’t yet performing the high-lateral “zig-zag” movements required for infield play, the fact that he is weight-bearing and running without a visible limp is a massive step forward for an injury that many feared could sideline him until June.
“Addison is a worker,” Schneider said of his young star. “He’s a ‘dirtbag’ in the best sense of the word. He wants to be out there, and he’s been attacking his rehab with the same intensity he uses to attack a 98-mph fastball. Seeing him run today is a great sign for us. He’s a big part of our power profile, and we’ve missed that left-handed bat in the middle of the order.”
Barger’s 2025 season changed his career trajectory, moving him from a “prospect with power” to a “legitimate run producer.” His ability to handle both third base and right field gave the Jays the tactical flexibility that helped propel them to the pennant last year. In his absence, the team has relied on newcomer Lenyn Sosa and utility man Tyler Fitzgerald, but Barger’s “hard-hit” metrics—which ranked in the top 10% of the league last season—are difficult to replicate.
The road ahead for Barger still involves several hurdles. He will need to progress to agility drills, defensive work, and eventually a full rehab assignment to regain his timing at the plate. The team is currently targeting a late-May return, but given Barger’s explosive progress this week, that timeline could shift.
For the Toronto faithful, Barger represents the “future-is-now” core of the team. Alongside Vladimir Guerrero Jr., he forms a power-hitting foundation that makes the Blue Jays a threat in any stadium. Watching him take those first strides back in Florida is a signal that the Blue Jays’ “slugger of the future” isn’t going to let a sprained ankle keep him down for long.