The Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox are set to play their second spring training game on Sunday at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, Florida, both teams entering the game with a 1-0 record.
After starting many of their regular players in the opener, Toronto gave Bo Bichette, Andres Gimenez, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. the day off. This allowed for more playing time for the team’s younger prospects, including 2018 sixth-round MLB draft pick Addison Barger.
Barger, making his 2025 spring debut, started at third base and batted second for manager John Schneider.
In his first at-bat, Barger was hit on the right hand by a pitch from Garrett Crochet and had to leave the game. The pitch was ruled a foul ball off the bat’s knob, but it clearly struck Barger’s hand, preventing him from completing the at-bat.
The Blue Jays later confirmed that Barger suffered a hand contusion, which led to his exit.
This spring is set to be crucial for Barger, who is vying for playing time in a packed Blue Jays infield. Although the team has not disclosed a return timeline, it’s unfortunate that his spring debut ended prematurely during his first at-bat.
Despite a .601 OPS in his 2024 MLB debut season, Barger was ranked as Toronto’s sixth-best prospect in 2023 (via MLB.com). The 25-year-old has a career .815 OPS in the minors, showcasing significant offensive potential from the left side.