Reinforcements are heading to the Toronto Blue Jays in the near future.
After getting George Springer and Trey Yesavage back from injury this week, the team appears to be getting closer to full strength with Jose Berrios, Alejandro Kirk and Addison Barger all progressing through their rehabs, according to manager John Schneider.
Berrios, who has missed the entire 2026 campaign with an elbow injury, is the closest to return, with Sportsnet's Arden Zwelling reporting that Sunday's contest against the Minnesota Twins could be a potential return date for the right-hander.
The 31-year-old is set to throw a between-starts bullpen session in triple-A with the Buffalo Bisons on Friday before a decision is made.
Berrios' last in-game outing came on Tuesday with the Bisons, when he allowed five runs — including two homers — in four innings of work. His fastball velocity averaged just 91.9 m.p.h., down from last season's career low of 92.5 m.p.h.
The Blue Jays are listing their starter for Sunday as TBD. Patrick Corbin is set to start on Friday, Dylan Cease on Saturday.
Outfielder/third baseman Barger will be on the diamond running the bases Friday before playing for low-A Dunedin on Sunday, Schneider told reporters on Thursday.
Barger has been out of the lineup since April 5 with an ankle injury. Before getting hurt, the 26-year-old slugger struggled to replicate his success from last season, logging just one hit in 19 at-bats.
Kirk, the team's starting catcher, has begun is first steps to rejoining the big club as he resumed throwing at the Blue Jays player development complex in Dunedin.
The two-time all-star fractured his catching thumb just five games into the season, with Schneider saying that he'd miss at least six weeks.
In 22 plate appearances this season, Kirk notched one home run and just three hits total.
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