Blue Jays' Jose Berrios Makes Startling Admission About His 2025 Season

Jose Berrios—remember him?—made his first start of the spring this year for the Toronto Blue Jays in a Grapefruit League game against the New York Mets.

Berrios admits that he had "doubt" about his ability to perform in 2025, starting right at this time in spring training.

Jose Berrios said he felt "pretty healthy, pretty strong," during his first outing of the spring - 2.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 Ks vs the Mets, which is different than a spring ago.

"Honestly, last year, at this time, I had doubt in my mind already," he said of his elbow.
— Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) February 23, 2026

“Honestly, last year, at this time, I had doubt in my mind already," he told Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.

Jose Berrios admits he wasn't healthy last spring, or all year

He had inflammation in his biceps tendon that was affecting his elbow, Berrios said.

“I've never been in that situation before. I just was dealing with that. Everything was new for me. I never saw myself (not pitching) so that's why I kept trying to fight and compete with my team.”

It showed in his season record, as he posted a 5.15 ERA in the second half of the year, a 5.63 mark over his final 14 outings, and a 6.75 ERA over his last four appearances. He was pulled from the rotation, shut down in late September, and wasn't on the Blue Jays' postseason roster.

He even left the team and wasn't even around during their exciting seven-game World Series run.

He's been regaining his arsenal over the offseason, and now into Spring Training.

With a season-opening injury to Shane Bieber, Berrios still has a rotation spot—for now. He'll slot in after Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease, Trey Yesavage and Cody Ponce. But if Berrios doesn't perform, lefty Eric Lauer is also around, trying to earn his way back into the starting staff.

There's also the potential of Max Scherzer still being brought back as well.

The 31-year-old Berrios was encouraged after his first spring start on Monday, throwing 47 pitches over 2.2 innings. As Davidi reports, the right-hander says he felt “pretty healthy, pretty strong."

That's a big difference from this time last year, as we've now learned. Let's see how that translates into the regular season.