Ahead of the 2025 MLB season, the Toronto Blue Jays signed free agent outfielder Anthony Santander to a five-year, $92.5 million contract. Before that, he was a member of the Baltimore Orioles.
Santander spent eight years with Baltimore, blossoming as a hitter in the final years of his tenure from 2022-2024. He clubbed 105 home runs and posted a .795 OPS during that time.
That is what Toronto signed the then-30-year-old for, to hit. However, the beginning of the five-year pact has been rough. In 2025, Santander appeared in only 54 regular season games due to a shoulder problem.
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His performance was not pretty. Santander posted a .175 batting average, .271 on-base percentage and .294 slugging percentage for a paltry .565 OPS. He managed six home runs and 18 RBIs.
Prior to the 2026 season, the outfielder underwent surgery to fully repair the labral tear in his left shoulder. He went on the injured list in March and has yet to appear in a game this season.
In a press conference on Tuesday, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins gave an update on the slugger. Santander has “turned a corner in the last couple weeks,” reported Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.
It was abundantly clear that Santander was not playing to his full ability during his short stint in 2025. Now nearing the end of a lengthy rehab, perhaps the 31-year-old can find new life in his bat.
This news comes on the heels of many other Toronto outfielders getting healthy, such as Nathan Lukes and Daulton Varsho. It was reported on Monday that Addison Barger will be into rehab games by the weekend.
When Santander eventually returns, there may end up being a logjam in the outfield. That being said, it is a good problem to have for a Blue Jays team that has been wrecked by injury this season.
The team is currently 39-39, back at .500 for the first time since May 29. They are in third place in the American League East, seven and a half games behind the first-place New York Yankees.
They are currently in the middle of a three-game series against the Houston Astros.
