The Toronto Blue Jays are still awaiting the return of outfielder Anthony Santander. The 31-year-old switch hitter has not played a single game this season, missing all 150 games Toronto has played in 2026.
The Blue Jays are entering their series opener Monday against the Detroit Tigers still fighting for the final American League wild card spot, currently owned by the Cleveland Guardians by one game.
Fortunately, the Blue Jays own the tiebreaker over Cleveland, meaning they just need to finish with an identical record to earn the spot. Toronto is hoping Santander can be a part of their push over the final two weeks.
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Santander has missed the entire year due to a slow recovery from left shoulder surgery back in February. Fortunately, he has made progress and is currently on a minor-league rehab assignment with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons.
He has appeared in three games so far, going 1-for-7 at the plate while playing both designated hitter and the outfield.
If he returns to Toronto, he will come back as an outfielder given George Springer has the designated hitter role locked down. Ahead of first pitch Monday, manager John Schneider spoke with reporters and provided an update on Santander and the plan moving forward.
Schneider revealed that Santander would finish out the rest of the current week at Triple-A before the team makes a decision on whether he is ready to return to the big leagues, per Thomas Hall of Blue Jays Nation.
When asked about his progress, Schneider replied, “He’s hitting the ball hard. He’s hitting some home runs, and he’s playing the outfield.”
Santander has struggled even when healthy in a Blue Jays uniform, but he is just two years removed from an All-Star campaign with the Baltimore Orioles in 2024 when he hit 44 home runs.
If that player is still in there somewhere, unlocking him and adding him to Toronto’s lineup would be huge for a team that desperately needs power.
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