The timing couldn’t be better for the playoff-bound Toronto Blue Jays to get slugging outfielder/DH Anthony Santander back in the lineup.
While no decisions have been made, Santander, who hasn’t played for the Jays since May 29th due to a major shoulder injury, wrapped up on September 21st his rehab stint with the Jays Triple-A affiliate Buffalo Bisons, who finished off their season with a 2-1 loss against the New York Yankees Triple-A team.
Santander, who back on January 30, 2025, signed with the Jays a five-year $92.5- million- dollar contract. was coming off a solid season with the Baltimore Orioles, during which the 30 year-old switch-hitter mashed 44 home runs along with 102 RBIs, 140 hits while scoring 91 runs.
Signed by the Jays to provide power, things haven’t panned out for the 2024 Silver Slugger Award winner, who in late May landed on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation.
Hitting second in the Bisons final game of the season, Santander, who was the designated hitter, walked twice and was hitless in two at bats.
During his rehab stint with the Bisons, Santander played nine total games where he hit two home runs and two doubles and had seven hits in 32 at bats.
Santander suffered what was termed a left shoulder subluxation in early May when crashing into the outfield wall while playing in Anaheim.
Playoff-Bound Blue Jays Could Soon Get Back Power-Hitter Anthony Santander
Santander soaks in the moment with a 42-second home run trot
With the disappointing season Santander has had, you can excuse him for soaking in the moment when during a September 18th 2-0 win at Sahlen Field against Scranton/Wilkes, Santander made Triple A baseball history by setting the record for slowest home run trot at 41 seconds.
Following the home run, which had a 111.5 mph exit velocity, Santander’s trot around the bases went viral and had fans and media puzzled about the extra long trot and why he did and whether he might be injured.
It’s been an extremely frustrating season for Santander, who before getting hurt in May was only hitting .179 with 14 home runs, 33 hits, 6 home runs and 18 RBIs. More than likely, that slow home run trot was not to show up the pitcher or make any statement but just to soak in the accomplishment after dealing with so many disappointments.
Naturally with the Jays bats slumping and shortstop Bo Bichette out of commission until the playoffs, this would be a perfect time for Santander’s Blue Jays return. However, this would mean that the Jays would have to make a tough decision on who to designate for assignment. More likely than not, it would be outfielder Joey Loperfido who has options. Santander is more than capable of hitting one out at any time and turning the momentum of a ball game into the Jays favor. The only thing is that with playoffs right around the corner, Santander has to hit from the onset.
Santander has proven track record
Prior to signing with the Blue Jays, Santander was a proven power hitter who during his eight year career with the Baltimore Orioles has 155 home runs, 155 doubles, while driving in 435 runs and posting a .776 OPS.
Santander, who was selected by Baltimore in the 2016 Rule 5 draft, made his debut on August 18, 2017 at Camden Yards against the Angeles and began building his reputation as a consistent power hitter.
A look at the statistics show that Santander’s three best season’s came in 2022 when he smacked 33 home runs and drove in 89 followed by the next year when Santander mashed 28 home runs along with 95 RBIs followed by that career year of 2024 which as earlier mentioned saw Santander hit 44 home runs and 102 RBI’s.
Last winter when the Blue Jays showed interest in Santander, he was ranked on the Yahoo Sports List 11th of the best 50 available free agents.
Blue Jays fans should be excited about the pending arrival of Santander who will take tremendous pressure off of first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the entire team to perform. Santander makes the Blue Jays line up that much more dangerous and with their starting pitching, among the favourites to win the World Series.
Main Image: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
