Toronto Blue Jays' Jose Berrios discusses injuries, plans to pitch in WBC
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Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Jose Berrios discusses his rough finish to the 2025 season and what's next going forward.
The veteran Blue Jays starter was back home in Puerto Rico this week, giving back to the community through his "La Makina Foundation" with a celebrity softball game that supports local charities.
On Tuesday, Berrios joined MLB Network to break down the event, but of course, the conversation turned back to the end of the Blue Jays season and the injury that kept the right-hander from joining the club in the post-season.
"It was an unbelievable year," Berrios said. "The guys (gave) 100 per cent every day out there. It was fun, and I enjoyed it all year long.
Berrios says that he wants to pitch in the WBC again in 2026. «I have that in my mind. That's my goal right now.»
"I battled all year long with my elbow, my bicep, but the way that the team competed out there, I was trying to (stay) out there and go out there and compete every five days with them."
Berrios missed time due to injuries for the first time in his career
Berrios was placed on the IL on Sept. 25 with right elbow inflammation, the first time in his MLB career that he'd missed time due to injury.
He was unable to return for Toronto's run to the World Series. The IL move came days after the longtime starter was moved to the bullpen as the Blue Jays worked to align their pitching plans for the playoffs, which Berrios said he wasn't happy about at the time.
He ended the year with a 4.17 ERA over 166 innings and 31 appearances.
«He was not happy,» Atkins said. «He was disappointed that he wasn't in our rotation.
«It's always tough when someone of his pedigree is not in the rotation. Sure, he was not excited with that decision. And having to be the one that makes (the call not to have him on the World Series roster), it makes it very difficult.»
If that decision did indeed not sit well with Berrios, the 31-year-old seems determined to move on from it.
Already throwing, he intends to be ready to pitch at the outset of training camp with an eye on representing Puerto Rico at the World Baseball Classic in March.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 17 | 92 ANSWERS Toronto Blue Jays' Jose Berrios discusses injuries, plans to pitch in WBC Do you think Jose Berrios will bounce back in 2026? | ||
| Yes | 58 | 63 % |
| No | 19 | 20.7 % |
| Too early to tell | 15 | 16.3 % |
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