Left-hander Joe Mantiply is back in the Toronto Blue Jays bullpen. The team confirmed his return from the injured list on September 1, 2026, with the move officially recognized on Wednesday, September 2. Mantiply, who turns 35 this year, is now on the active roster and available out of the 'pen as Toronto navigates the final stretch of the 2026 regular season. His return adds a veteran arm to a relief corps that will welcome any reinforcement at this stage of the schedule.
What Mantiply's Return Means for the Blue Jays Bullpen
Getting Mantiply back is not without context. His 2025 numbers were difficult — a 15.83 ERA across 9.2 innings, a 3.00 WHIP, and 17 earned runs allowed in 10 appearances. He struck out 8 batters against 3 walks in that span, but the contact against him was punishing: opponents hit .481 with a 1.350 OPS. Those figures make it hard to frame his return as a straightforward boost without seeing fresh 2026 performance data.
What We Know
- Mantiply was officially activated from the injured list on September 1, 2026.
- He is now on the active roster and available to pitch.
- He has no active statistical streaks entering this stint.
- His most recent pitching data on record is from 2025, when he posted a 15.83 ERA in 9.2 innings across 10 appearances.
- He carries a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage over those 10 appearances in 2025.
The Blue Jays will need to see what version of Mantiply shows up in September. The sample size from 2025 was small — just under 10 innings — so the door is open for a better result. For now, he's available, he's on the roster, and the coaching staff will determine how to deploy him from here.
