As Major League Baseball teams opened spring training on February 10, 2026, several players were reported sidelined by injuries, impacting rosters for the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, Atlanta Braves, Detroit Tigers, and Colorado Rockies. Key updates include outfielder Anthony Santander's shoulder surgery and pitcher Shane Bieber's delayed ramp-up for the Blue Jays. These setbacks come amid preparations for the March 26 Opening Day.
The Toronto Blue Jays faced significant blows on February 10, with manager John Schneider announcing that outfielder Anthony Santander will undergo left shoulder labral surgery on February 11 with Dr. Keith Meister, sidelining him for five to six months. Santander, who signed a five-year, $92.5 million deal last offseason, struggled in 2025 with the same injury, hitting .175 in 54 games. "He was resting and rehabbing in November and December, then he kind of had a setback when he started ramping up with his hitting earlier in January," Schneider said. The team plans to rely on depth players like Addison Barger, Nathan Lukes, and Davis Schneider to fill the gap, especially after shortstop Bo Bichette departed in free agency to the Mets.
Pitcher Shane Bieber's preparation is also delayed due to right forearm fatigue lingering from the 2025 World Series. Acquired at the trade deadline last year, Bieber threw 40 1/3 innings down the stretch and 18 2/3 in the postseason before opting into his $16 million player option. "[Bieber's] here, he’s feeling good and he’s playing catch out to 90 feet," Schneider noted, emphasizing a cautious, week-to-week approach without offseason procedures. Additionally, depth starter Bowden Francis will miss the entire 2026 season after UCL reconstruction surgery.
New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor is being evaluated for a stress reaction in his left hamate bone, which surfaced in recent days. Possible surgery could require six weeks of recovery, potentially affecting his status for Opening Day on March 26 against the Pirates. President of baseball operations David Stearns remains optimistic: "At this point, even if it does require surgery, we would remain optimistic that Francisco would be back for Opening Day."
Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach was placed on the 60-day injured list with right elbow bone spurs, confirmed free of UCL damage after discomfort arose in late January. He will miss at least the first two months. Manager Walt Weiss said, "I always say, before a season even starts, your pitching depth is going to get tested."
Detroit Tigers pitcher Reese Olson underwent right shoulder labral repair surgery on February 2 with Dr. Keith Meister and will miss 2026 after a setback in his throwing progression. Colorado Rockies infielder Kris Bryant, dealing with degenerative lumbar disc disease, was placed on the 60-day IL on February 10, continuing treatments focused on short-term health; his last MLB appearance was April 12, 2025.
These announcements highlight early challenges for teams as pitchers and catchers report, testing roster depths across the league.
