Yimi Garcia was lifted after only four batters in his first rehab appearance on Thursday in the Florida Complex League, his first game since landing on the Injured List last fall.
Garcia, 35, started Thursday's game for the FCL Blue Jays, Toronto's Rookie-level team, by inducing a groundout to second base and a flyout to center field. The right-hander then allowed back-to-back singles, a groundball to third base and a popup to left field. He was replaced by RHP Sann Omosako, who allowed one of those baserunners to score, a run which was charged to Garcia. The Blue Jays did not say why Garcia was removed after four batters.
Omosako went 4.1 innings to earn the win, as the FCL Blue Jays beat the FCL Tigers 3-2 to remain undefeated at 4-0. The team improved to 5-0 Friday with a 4-3 win over the FCL Yankees.
Yimi Garcia returned to the mound today in the FCL. First rehab outing and started the game.
— Tyson Shushkewich (@Tyson_MLB) May 8, 2026
Got two quick outs before allowing back to back singles before he was lifted. One of the runners eventually scored. #BlueJays
Garcia has short rehab outing in first game action post surgery
Garcia is working his way back from elbow surgery. The reliever was placed on the Injured List in May 2025 with a right shoulder impingement, returned for one game on July 2, then was put back on the Injured List with an ankle sprain. Shortly after, he was moved to the 60-day Injured List, which took him off of the roster, when he started having problems with his elbow. That ended his 2025 season, and Garcia hasn't pitched in a MLB game since July 2.
In September, Garcia had surgery to clear out scar tissue around his elbow. Garica reported to Spring Training, and was throwing a little in March. He started throwing bullpen sessions in April, and eventually batting practice to hitters. Currently on the 60-day Injured List, Garcia is eligible to be activated during the last week of May. When he is healthy enough to return, a roster move will have to be made to get Garcia back on the 40-man roster.
Garcia has been a valuable reliever during his time with Toronto, which includes his first stint with the Blue Jays in 2022 until he was traded to the Seattle Mariners in 2024. Garcia returned to Canada, signing a two-year deal with the Jays before the 2025 season. He has a 3.49 ERA in 185 games and 178 innings with the Blue Jays, striking out 204 batters and posting a 1.09 WHIP.
With numbers like that, and a Wins Above Replacement of 1.3 in his Blue Jay career, Garcia could be a welcome addition to the Toronto bullpen. Currently, Blue Jays relievers have a 4.15 ERA, which is 17th in the majors, and a 1.32 WHIP that is 14th best. When the Toronto front office was putting the 2026 team together, a bullpen that included Garcia was certainly what it envisioned the team would need to compete for a World Series.