Blue Jays' Brandon Barriera: Gets hybrid elbow surgery
Rotowire
Barriera's agent, Nate Heisler, announced Monday via social media that his client recently underwent a hybrid surgery on his left elbow and will miss the rest of the 2024 season.
More specifically, Heisler notes that Barriera underwent a traditional Tommy John surgery along with an internal brace procedure. Though an internal brace procedure alone typically entails a 9-to-12-month recovery for pitchers compared to a 12-to-16-month recovery for Tommy John surgery, it's unclear what sort of timeline Barriera might be looking at with a fusion of the two surgeries. In any event, Barriera won't be available until at least next spring, slowing the development of one of the top young arms in the Blue Jays farm system.
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Blue Jays' Brandon Barriera: Needs left elbow surgery
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Barriera is set to undergo left elbow surgery, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.
Barriera has been on the 7-day injured list with Single-A Dunedin after sustaining a left elbow injury April 6. It's unclear whether the operation will be for Tommy John surgery or an internal brace, but Mitchell notes that the left-hander will be out for at least 10 months. Barriera was taken by the Blue Jays in the first round of the 2022 MLB Draft. The southpaw posted a 4.42 ERA and 0.99 WHIP over six starts with Dunedin in 2023.
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Blue Jays' Brandon Barriera: Heads to IL
Rotowire
Single-A Dunedin placed Barriera (arm) on its 7-day injured list Tuesday.
Barriera landed on the IL just three days after he exited his season debut with Dunedin midway through the second inning due to an apparent left arm injury. The 20-year-old southpaw is facing an unclear timeline for a return to the mound.
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Blue Jays' Brandon Barriera: Suffers apparent arm injury
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Barriera exited Saturday's start for Low-A Dunedin with an apparent left arm injury, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Barriera threw a pitch, got the ball back, walked behind the mound and fired the ball into the ground in frustration before walking off the field with the trainer. It's not clear exactly what he's dealing with, but it's worth noting the left-hander dealt with an elbow issue for a big chunk of last season.
Blue Jays' Brandon Barriera: Likely done for season
Rotowire
Single-A Dunedin placed Barriera on its 7-day injured list Aug. 3 due to biceps soreness, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Barriera, the No. 23 overall pick in the 2022 First-Year Player Draft, dealt with a shoulder issue in spring training, was shut down again after a May 25 start due to elbow soreness, and now has been shut down again after his velocity was down during a two-inning appearance July 29. Given that he's a hard-throwing 19-year-old with several recent arm injuries, his risk of needing some sort of surgery before advancing to the upper levels of the minors is extreme. All told, he logged a 3.98 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 25 strikeouts in 20.1 innings across Single-A and the rookie-level Florida Complex League this season.
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Blue Jays' Brandon Barriera: Activated at Single-A
Rotowire
Barriera (elbow) was activated off the 7-day injured list Friday with Single-A Dunedin, Sam Dykstra of MiLB.com reports.
One of the most exciting pitching prospects in the lower levels of the minors, Barriera has struck out 20 batters over 15.1 innings this season. The Jays have been very cautious with him as he dealt with a shoulder injury to start the year before getting shut down due to an elbow issue.
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Blue Jays' Brandon Barriera: Could return in late-July
Rotowire
Barriera (elbow) continues to build up during live batting practices and could return to the Single-A Dunedin rotation in a couple of weeks, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet reports.
The high-upside lefty struck out 18 with a 76.9 percent groundball rate in 13.1 innings across his first four professional starts this May before landing on the injured list with a sore elbow. According to Davidi, Barriera has been sitting 92-94 mph with his fastball during his recent sessions.
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Blue Jays' Brandon Barriera: Bouncing back from elbow issue
Rotowire
Barriera is ramping back up towards bullpen sessions after being shut down for two weeks with elbow soreness, Mitch Bannon of SI.com reports.
Barriera has made four starts for Single-A Dunedin this season, striking out a third of the batters he's faced but posting a 5.40 ERA. He hasn't pitched since May 25 but has gotten back to throwing from 90 feet and should soon be cleared to throw a bullpen.
Barriera tossed four scoreless, no-hit innings for Single-A Dunedin on Wednesday, striking out six and walking one.
The 19-year-old was absolutely dominant in his first action as a professional, especially considering he hadn't pitched in a game anywhere in about a year -- Barriera shut himself down at the end of his final high-school season before being selected 23rd overall by Toronto in the 2022 MLB Draft. The southpaw sat comfortably in the mid-90s with his fastball, and Florida State League hitters had little chance against a slider that already looks like a plus pitch. Barriera isn't expected to see a big workload this season as the Blue Jays focus on his health and development -- he was held back this spring due to some shoulder soreness -- but he will soar up prospect lists quickly with more outings like this one.
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Blue Jays' Brandon Barriera: Pro debut coming next week
Rotowire
Barriera (shoulder) will make his pro debut Wednesday for Single-A Dunedin, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.
A high-upside prep lefty whom the Blue Jays selected with the 23rd overall pick in last year's draft, Barriera's pro debut was delayed this spring by a shoulder issue that the team wanted to be very cautious with. It's excellent news that the injury was indeed minor, as Barriera is still on schedule developmentally as a 19-year-old at Single-A.
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Blue Jays' Brandon Barriera: Recovering from shoulder issue
Rotowire
Barriera dealt with a shoulder issue this spring and was held back in extended spring training, Jim Callis of MLB.com reports.
Per Callis, the Jays are being "super cautious" with Barriera's workload back in Florida before assigning him to a full-season affiliate. The 23rd overall pick last season, Barriera has a very high ceiling and could break out this year if he can get fully healthy. Look for the Jays to keep the training wheels on with their prized lefty this year, likely limiting how deep he goes into games early in the season.
