Blue Jays starter Jose Berrios won't be ready for Opening Day due to stress fracture

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Jose Berrios throws at Spring Training in Dunedin, Fla. on Feb. 12, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

DUNEDIN — Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Jose Berrios won’t be ready for Opening Day next week due to a stress fracture in his right elbow, manager John Schneider said Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters at the team’s spring training complex, Schneider said a recent in-person meeting with surgeon and elbow specialist Dr. Keith Meister yielded a “relatively good report.”

“He does have a stress fracture in the right elbow but is still symptom-free,” he said. “I think he’ll take a couple days down from throwing and then get back after it. Hopefully it’s not too long, as long as he’s feeling good, and (he’ll) get back on the mound fairly soon.

“But he won’t be ready to start the season.”

The Blue Jays will open the new campaign March 27 against the visiting Athletics.

Right elbow inflammation prevented Berrios from joining Puerto Rico at the recent World Baseball Classic.

Berrios was 9-5 with a 4.17 earned-run average over 31 appearances for the Blue Jays last year. He ended the season on the injured list due to right elbow inflammation and didn’t pitch in the playoffs.

“Talking to Jose, there’s no pain,” Schneider said. “So that’s a good thing.”

Berrios, 31, made his big-league debut in 2016 with the Minnesota Twins. He was dealt to the Blue Jays midway through the 2021 season.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 18, 2026.