Toronto Blue Jays provide disappointing injury update for veteran pitcher
Don’t expect to see veteran pitcher Yimi Garcia back on the mound for the Toronto Blue Jays this season.
It’s been a frustrating couple of months for the Blue Jays reliever, who was placed on the injured list July 5 after experiencing nerve symptoms in his right elbow. It was initially believed to be nothing serious, but he wasn’t recovering as quickly as hoped, prompting him to seek a second opinion.
That second opinion revealed that Garcia will need to undergo surgery to clean up some scar tissue in his throwing elbow. The procedure will put an end to this 2025 season, although the Jays expect him to be ready for spring training in 2026.
News: Yimi García will have elbow surgery to clean up some scar tissue.
His season is over and the #BlueJays expect he’ll be ready for 2026 Spring Training.
— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) August 29, 2025
Garcia has been a valued member of the Blue Jays bullpen since joining them in 2022. He was shipped out to the Seattle Mariners at last year’s trade deadline, but rejoined the Jays on a two-year, $15 million deal in the offseason. He wound up pitching just 21 innings this season, posting a 3.86 ERA along with 25 strikeouts.
While losing Garcia is a blow to the Jays’ pen, they did receive some good news today, as it was announced that Anthony Santander is set to do full baseball activities this weekend. Both he and the club are hoping he can begin a rehab assignment next weekend. If that happens, there’s a chance he could rejoin the Jays in late September ahead of the playoffs.
Anthony Santander doing full baseball activities this weekend: hitting on field, running & fielding drills. He’ll travel with Jays to Cincinnati after which the hope is he would begin a rehab assignment next weekend. Jays hope he can return later in Sept.
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) August 29, 2025
The Blue Jays’ big offseason get has struggled immensely in 2025, hitting just .179 through 209 plate appearances. That said, if he can return to the calibre of player he was with the Baltimore Orioles in recent years, he would be a huge addition down the stretch.
Santander hasn’t played since being placed on the injured list due to a subluxation of his left shoulder in May.