Blue Jays' Max Scherzer Details 'Frustrating' Thumb Injury Before 2025 MLB Season

Max Scherzer detailed his frustrations with dealing with a thumb injury on his pitching hand ahead of the 2025 MLB season.

“It’s a little thing that’s a big thing,” Scherzer said, per The Athletic's Tyler Kepner. “I’m not gonna lie, it’s frustrating. Because I know I can pitch at this level. I know I can still pitch at a very high level, as well. I know I have the pitches that I can execute and I can locate. But right now, it’s a thumb issue, and I’m gonna be battling until I’m fully built up.”

The 40-year-old has been dealing with the thumb issue for nearly two weeks but looked stellar on the mound during the Toronto Blue Jays' spring training game against the Minnesota Twins on Saturday. He struck out four over four shutout innings in a 2-1 Blue Jays victory, posting a 1.38 ERA.

After throwing 62 pitches, Scherzer noted that he feels "fine" on the mound but is concerned about his recovery.

“When I’m out there, it heats up and it goes away and I’m fine,” Scherzer said, per Kepner. “It’s kind of like tendinitis, in a way. Once it gets hot and gets out there, then I don’t feel it and I can pitch the way I’ve always pitched. I’m not worried about my stuff, I’m worried about how I recover — because this can blow up fast and lead to a lot of other things.

“I’ll know what damage I did on it today, tomorrow,” he added.

Scherzer signed a one-year, $15.5 million contract with the Blue Jays in free agency, noting that his thumb has been the only thing holding him back from a long-term future with the team.

“It’s anybody’s guess,” Scherzer said, per Kepner. “I don’t have the answers. From the very beginning, even in free agency, I said, ‘The only thing that’s holding me back long-term here is the thumb. If you’re going to sign me, everything else is good on me. The back is good. The only issue is my thumb.’

The Blue Jays will open their season on March 27 against the Baltimore Orioles.