The Toronto Blue Jays have been decimated by injuries just two weeks into the regular season. All-Star catcher Alejandro Kirk is now on the 15-day injured list with a fractured left thumb, while one of their major right-handed pitching additions in the offseason, Cody Ponce, is set to miss several months with a sprained right ACL.
To make matters worse, another Blue Jays player suffered an injury on Sunday during Toronto’s game against the Chicago White Sox. That player was infielder Addison Barger, who has the ability to play both the infield and outfield, frequently appearing at third base and right field.
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He has spent his entire MLB career with the Blue Jays since the organization drafted him in the sixth round of the 2018 MLB Draft.
Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Addison Barger (47)Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
(Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images)
Barger broke out for Toronto in 2025, as did many players on a roster that reached the World Series. The 26-year-old left-handed slugger posted a .243 batting average, .301 on-base percentage, .756 OPS, 21 home runs and 74 RBIs across 135 games.
Unfortunately for Barger, he is off to a very slow start in 2026, but it is still early. However, his ability to regain his form may have to wait after he left Sunday’s game against the White Sox early.
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In the third inning, Barger appeared to injure himself while running out a ground ball and awkwardly landing on first base. By the bottom of the sixth inning, Jesus Sanchez had taken over in right field.
Moments later, the Blue Jays provided an update on Barger’s status. “UPDATE: OF Addison Barger was removed from today’s game with bilateral ankle discomfort,” the team wrote on X.
It is unclear whether Barger will undergo X-rays to determine the severity of the injury, but it is another disappointing development for a Blue Jays team that has not been able to avoid the injury bug early in 2026.
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If Barger is forced to miss extended time, Sanchez would likely step into an everyday role, along with increased playing time for Nathan Lukes.
To make matters worse, Toronto went on to lose 3-0 to Chicago, extending its losing streak to four games. The Blue Jays will return home to host the Los Angeles Dodgers for a three-game series on Monday, and they may be without Barger’s services.
Related: Blue Jays Player in Tears After Loss to White Sox
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Apr 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.