There are statements that sound reassuring at first glance.
“There’s no doubt about it.”
That’s how José Berríos described his feelings after his Spring Training 2026 debut with the Toronto Blue Jays. 2.2 innings, nearly 50 pitches, some good fastballs on both sides of the plate, plus 13 bullpen shots. A seemingly ordinary Grapefruit League afternoon.
But the detail that makes people stop isn’t the box score.
Berríos admitted that… last spring he had doubts about his elbow.
Not in September. Not when he was on the injured list for elbow inflammation and missed the playoffs. It was back in the spring of 2025.
And that’s what makes the story complicated.
Manager John Schneider said he didn’t know about any problems at the time. “If we’d ever felt insecure, we wouldn’t have let him shoot.” That sounds reasonable. But the gap between the player’s “doubt” and the coaching staff’s “ignorance” creates a lingering impact.
Berríos is known for his consistency. A 10-year career, over 100 wins, two All-Star appearances. He’s the type of pitcher who plays regularly, without fuss or complaint. Therefore, his decline in 2025 was initially seen as a form issue.
A 9–5 record with an ERA of 4.17 wasn’t a disaster. But a FIP of 4.65 and only 138 strikeouts in 166 innings told a different story: his dominance had diminished. And when news of elbow inflammation emerged at the end of the season, everything started to fall into place.
Now, when Berríos says he “no longer doubts” this year, the question naturally arises: how long did he pitch last year without complete confidence in his body?
With Shane Bieber injured, Berríos’s role at the start of the 2026 season is more important than ever. He’s expected to be the No. 5 starter, and when the rotation is strong enough, he could move to long relief. A more modest role than expected when he signed a long-term contract.
At 31, Berríos is no longer in his “development” phase. He’s in his preservation phase. His two years remaining on his contract led to trade rumors. But given the current situation, Toronto can hardly take the risk.
The question is: Which version of Berríos do the Blue Jays need?
The stable 2024 version?
Or the struggling 2025 version who quietly overcomes his pain?
The spring pitching may just be the warm-up. But what he revealed seems like a missing piece of the puzzle for the past year.
There’s no doubt about it — he said so.
But sometimes, what worries people isn’t the current doubts.
It’s the fact that those doubts existed before… and nobody really knows exactly when they started.
For a team looking to compete seriously, the fragility of a seemingly stable position can silently shape the entire season.
And if Berríos’ elbow was the question last season…
Is it really the answer this year?
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