Jose Berrios didn't let a tough finish to the 2025 season ruin his offseason.
Veteran Toronto Blue Jays The starter returned home to Puerto Rico this week, giving back to the community through his La Maquina Foundation with a celebrity softball game that supports local charities.
On Tuesday, Berrios joins MLB Network to break it up, but of course the conversation turned to the end of the Blue Jays' season and the injury that prevented the right-hander from joining the club after the season.
“It’s been an incredible year,” Berrios said. “The guys gave 100 percent every day. It was fun and I enjoyed it all year.
“I’ve been struggling with my elbow and my biceps all year, but the way the team performed there, I was trying to (stay) there and go out there and compete with them every five days.”
Berrios went on the IL on Sept. 25 with right elbow inflammation—the first time he missed time with an injury in his MLB career—and was unable to return to Toronto for the World Series. The IL move came days after the longtime starter was relegated to the bullpen while the Blue Jays worked to finalize their playoff pitching plans, something Berrios said he was unhappy with at the time.
He finished the year with a 4.17 ERA in 166 innings and 31 appearances.
It was the fewest starts and innings Berrios has thrown in a full season since 2017. He made exactly 32 starts in six of the previous seven seasons, excluding the shortened 2020 campaign.
“At the end of the season, I (couldn’t) hold that feeling in my hand anymore,” Berrios said of the injury Tuesday. “So I just raised my arms and tried to see what I had there… It was a biceps tendon inflammation, so nothing serious. We attacked very quickly and that's why I didn't make it to the playoffs.”
Berrios said he's five weeks into his offseason throwing program and expects to be back on the mound when Toronto heads to spring training early next year.
However, with the World Baseball Classic returning in March, Berrios – a Puerto Rico veteran who played in the event – is eyeing a spot in his country's rotation.
“I want to compete in the WBC. I mean it,” he said. “That's my goal now. First of all, get through spring training healthy and strong, and then prepare for the WBC.
Berrios first competed for Puerto Rico in the 2013 tournament when he was just 19 years old and continues to compete in the WBC at every opportunity. He made just one start for his country in 2023, allowing five earned runs and five hits in one inning.
This time, Puerto Rico will host the Group A round-robin tournament, which will also include Canada, Cuba, Panama and Colombia, who will travel to San Juan in hopes of reaching the quarterfinals.
