Scouting Report: José Berríos

Summary

José Berríos, 31-year-old Toronto Blue Jays right-handed starting pitcher, is facing a significant elbow injury crisis in 2026. The veteran pitcher has not appeared in any major league games this season after elbow inflammation was detected during a routine World Baseball Classic physical in spring training. Subsequent testing revealed a stress fracture in his right elbow. Despite attempting a minor league rehab assignment at Triple-A Buffalo, Berríos struggled significantly with a 10.67 ERA over 14⅓ innings, showing decreased velocity (approximately 3 mph drop) and continued discomfort. An MRI revealed inflammation and small changes to the initial injury. Berríos underwent elbow surgery on May 21, 2026, performed by renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Keith Meister to address the stress fracture and potential loose bodies in the elbow. There is significant concern about possible ligament damage that may require repair during surgery, which could sideline him for the remainder of the 2026 season. The Blue Jays have no established recovery timeline pending surgical findings.