George Springer injury update: Blue Jays star breaks toe, placed on IL

The defending American League champions are feeling a little more snakebit with every passing game.

The Toronto Blue Jays, already beset by a rotation's worth of pitching injuries, lost a crucial offensive performer Saturday, April 11 when leadoff hitter George Springer suffered a fractured big left toe in their 7-4 loss to the Minnesota Twins at Rogers Centre.

A day later, Springer was placed on the 10-day injured list before the series finale against the Twins.

The designated hitter fouled a ball off his left toe in the third inning Saturday, initially waved off Toronto's training staff, but did not come to the plate for his next at-bat in the sixth. The Blue Jays dropped to 6-8 with their seventh loss in nine games.

And suddenly, the Blue Jays are down the equivalent of three everyday players, with Springer, All-Star catcher Alejandro Kirk (thumb surgery) and infielder/outfielder Addison Barger (ankles) all shelved.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said the club dodged a bit of a bullet with Springer's diagnosis, telling reporters in Toronto if it were later in the season, Springer might have taped up the toe and tried to play at what he estimated was 65 to 70%. Schneider said the hope remains that it will be close to the minimum IL stay for their leadoff hitter.

The rash of everyday players going down comes during a spring in which pitchers Shane Bieber (forearm), Trey Yesavage (shoulder), Jose Berríos (elbow) and Cody Ponce (torn ACL) aren't able to go. Additionally, 41-year-old Max Scherzer underwent a recent MRI on his right elbow in the wake of his two-inning start April 6.

George Springer injury update

Springer is certainly a big loss. In the final year of a $150 million contract, Springer revived his career with a 32-homer, .959 OPS 2025 season, capped by the biggest homer for the Blue Jays this season, his three-run shot to clinch the pennant in ALCS Game 7. This year, he was off to a 10-for-54 start (.185) with two homers.

His bat may prove difficult to replace, given that the club let Bo Bichette walk in free agency, figuring Barger would take a step forward and newcomer Kazuma Okamoto would adjust quickly to the major leagues. Now, Barger and Springer are shelved and Okamoto is producing a .651 OPS in 13 games.