José Berríos begins rehab start, nearing Blue Jays return

The Toronto Blue Jays are beginning to see movement on the pitching front, as José Berríos made his first rehab start Thursday night and is tracking toward a return in the coming weeks.

Berríos took the mound with Single-A Dunedin, throwing 47 pitches over 2 2/3 innings in his first game action since landing on the injured list. The outing was uneven on the surface, with five runs allowed on five hits and a walk, along with three strikeouts, but the results were secondary to workload and velocity.

The right-hander opened with a demanding first inning that required 30 pitches, but he settled into the outing and, more importantly, showed encouraging signs from a health standpoint.

Velocity readings provided the clearest indication of progress. Berríos’ four-seam fastball averaged 94.2 mph, an increase of 1.2 mph compared to his 2025 season. His sinker sat at 93.5 mph, also up more than a mile per hour, while both his changeup and breaking ball tracked slightly above last year’s averages.

Those numbers suggest that Berríos is physically in a strong position, despite the underlying diagnosis of a stress fracture in his right elbow. The injury, which was discovered during imaging ahead of the World Baseball Classic, has not produced symptoms, and the pitcher has been cleared to continue throwing without restriction.

From the club’s perspective, the outing checked key boxes. Pitch count progression and velocity are primary indicators at this stage, particularly for a starter expected to rejoin the rotation soon.

Berríos is now expected to follow a standard rehab progression, with one to three additional starts depending on how he builds up his workload. His timeline places him slightly behind Trey Yesavage, who is also nearing a return after beginning his own ramp-up.

For the Blue Jays, the timing is significant. The rotation has been heavily impacted by injuries early in the season, forcing the team to rely on a mix of bullpen games and short outings from available starters.

Recent performances have added to the uncertainty. Eric Lauer has struggled in his last two appearances, though those outings were influenced by illness and reduced velocity. Max Scherzer has also dealt with inconsistency while managing forearm tendinitis, further complicating the rotation picture.

At the same time, veteran left-hander Patrick Corbin has made a case for a longer stay after delivering a strong performance in a recent outing, adding another variable to the decision-making process.

The return of Berríos would provide stability. As a durable starter with a defined role, his presence would help redistribute innings and reduce the strain currently placed on both the bullpen and remaining starters.

Toronto’s approach will depend on how quickly its injured pitchers can be reintegrated. Yesavage could return as early as next week during the club’s upcoming series in Los Angeles, while Berríos is expected to follow shortly after if his rehab continues without setbacks.

The Blue Jays entered the season with expectations of a deep and reliable rotation. Injuries disrupted that plan early, but the progression of Berríos represents a step toward restoring balance.

For now, the focus remains on building him back to full workload. The results of the rehab outing may not stand out, but the underlying indicators point in the right direction.

As the Blue Jays navigate a crowded injured list, the return of established starters like Berríos is becoming increasingly important. His next outings will determine how quickly that return becomes a reality.