In a surprising turn for Toronto’s rotation, José Berríos has been placed on the injured list for the first time in his nine-year major league career. The 30-year-old right-hander, who has been a model of durability throughout his time with Minnesota and Toronto, is now sidelined with what the team is describing as right elbow inflammation.
The timing couldn’t be more unfortunate for both Berríos and the Blue Jays. The Puerto Rican starter had been enjoying a solid season, posting a 4.60 ERA across 21 starts with 108 strikeouts in 121.2 innings. His consistency has been one of the few bright spots in what has otherwise been a challenging campaign for Toronto, currently sitting at 45-52 and struggling to maintain relevance in the competitive AL East.
“When you look at the modern game, Berríos represented something increasingly rare,” notes baseball analyst Sarah Mitchell. “Starting pitchers who actually take the ball every fifth day without interruption are becoming baseball’s endangered species.”
What makes this development particularly noteworthy is Berríos’ remarkable attendance record prior to this setback. Since his MLB debut in 2016, he had never missed a scheduled start due to injury—a streak spanning 222 consecutive appearances. In an era where pitcher injuries seem almost inevitable, Berríos had defied the odds with a combination of meticulous preparation and what some have described as old-school durability.
The Blue Jays have responded by recalling Bowden Francis from Triple-A Buffalo to fill the rotation gap. Francis, who has bounced between starting and relief roles this season, will be tasked with helping stabilize a pitching staff that suddenly finds itself without its most reliable arm.
For Toronto fans, this development raises uncomfortable questions about the remainder of the season. With the trade deadline looming and playoff hopes fading, Berríos’ injury removes one of the team’s most valuable potential trade chips. The organization had reportedly been fielding calls about several veterans, including Berríos, as they contemplate a potential reset.
“Elbow inflammation can be a warning sign for more serious issues, but it can also be something that resolves with proper rest,” explains Dr. James Keller, sports medicine specialist. “The key factor will be how Berríos responds to treatment over the next week or two.”
The injury also highlights the remarkable physical resilience Berríos has displayed throughout his career. In a sport where Tommy John surgery has become almost a rite of passage for pitchers, his ability to avoid significant arm troubles has been extraordinary. Since 2017, Berríos has made at least 32 starts each season (except during the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign), establishing himself as one of baseball’s most dependable workhorses.
As Toronto navigates this unexpected challenge, the organization and fans alike will be closely monitoring Berríos’ recovery. Will this prove to be a minor setback in an otherwise iron-man career, or might it signal the beginning of a more concerning pattern for the aging starter?
For now, the Blue Jays can only hope their rotation stalwart returns quickly. In the increasingly specialized world of modern baseball, players like Berríos—who simply take the ball when it’s their turn—have become increasingly precious commodities. As we’ve seen countless times across CO24 Sports, durability itself has become perhaps the most valuable and elusive skill in today’s game.
The next few weeks will reveal much about both Berríos’ health and Toronto’s direction as the organization contemplates whether to compete now or build for the future.
