Jose Berrios and the Blue Jays Try to Move Forward After World Series Absence
Spring training is usually about fresh starts. For Jose Berrios and the Toronto Blue Jays, it is also about unfinished business.
Over the winter, both sides had to confront what happened during last year’s World Series run, when Berrios left the team while rehabbing an injured elbow. The decision created tension, raised questions and lingered into the offseason.
Now, with a new season ahead, Berrios is choosing accountability over silence.
Owning the decision
Standing outside the clubhouse at the Player Development Complex, Berrios addressed the situation directly.
“Whatever happened last year is already in the past,” he said. “I made maybe one bad decision.”
That decision was returning home to Puerto Rico to continue his rehab rather than staying with the team during the World Series. At the time, Berrios was dealing with right elbow inflammation and had been removed from the rotation. His children were in school and he believed being close to family would help him reset.
In hindsight, he sees it differently.
“I thought being close to my family was going to be better for me and it wasn’t,” Berrios admitted. “I made a bad decision.”
Since arriving at camp, the 31-year-old right-hander has apologized individually to teammates, coaches and staff. He acknowledged that not everyone may have agreed with his choice.
“I told them I understand if you don’t agree or are unhappy with me,” he said. “But that’s what I did and I apologize.”
Why Toronto needs him
The timing of this reconciliation matters.
Toronto’s rotation has already taken early hits. Shane Bieber is expected to open the season on the injured list with forearm fatigue, while Bowden Francis will miss the entire year after undergoing elbow surgery. What once looked like a crowded rotation suddenly has room.
That opens a direct path for Berrios.
Even before the injuries, the Blue Jays needed him at his best. He is still owed significant money over the next three seasons and holds an opt-out clause this fall. For that to be realistic, he must restore his value on the mound.
Last season, Berrios finished 9–5 with a 4.17 ERA over 166 innings before landing on the injured list in September. He struggled at times, particularly when facing lineups for the third time and against right-handed hitters. Improving fastball command has become a central focus this spring.
“I’ve never come to spring training thinking I’m guaranteed a spot,” Berrios said. “I have to earn that spot.”
Accountability on both sides
Manager John Schneider made it clear that the situation was not viewed as one-sided.
“I think Jose realizes it could have been handled differently,” Schneider said. “Looking back, there are things we probably wish we did differently too.”
One issue was the lack of structure for injured players during the postseason. Throughout the year, players moved between Toronto and Dunedin depending on their status. In the intensity of a World Series chase, clarity sometimes gave way to urgency.
Schneider believes better guardrails could have helped prevent miscommunication.
Still, what matters most now is how Berrios responded.
“He’s so well respected for what he’s done in his career and what he’s done here,” Schneider said. “When you have his track record, it’s easy to get in front of it and say, ‘I messed up.’”
A season of redemption
The Blue Jays enter their 50th season with expectations high after coming close to a championship last fall. There are new additions, rotation reshuffling and lingering questions about depth.
For Berrios, the narrative is simpler.
He wants to compete. He wants to be part of another run. And he wants his children to see resilience.
“When we fall down, we have to stand up and keep going,” he said.
Nothing will quiet the noise faster than strong outings every fifth day. The apology has been delivered. The conversations have happened.
Now, the next chapter will be written on the mound.
