Anthony Santander is finally back playing baseball.
The Toronto Blue Jays‘ slugger began a rehab assignment on Thursday, slotting in as the designated hitter for the triple-A Buffalo Bisons in what ended up as an 8-7 loss against the Rochester Red Wings.
And fortunately for Jays’ fans, Santander looked solid in his first game action in over three months. The 30-year-old finished Thursday’s outing 1-3 with a home run, two walks and an RBI.
Santander has been out of Toronto’s lineup with a shoulder injury since May 29. His rehab assignment in Buffalo, N.Y., was supposed to start earlier this week but was delayed due to back tightness.
$el.after( unescape("%3Cscript src=\"" + (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://sb" : "http://b") + ".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\" %3E%3C/script%3E") );
$( document ).one( 'ready', function() { $( "#video_container-905167" ).SNPlayer( { bc_account_id: "1704050871", bc_player_id: "JCdte3tMv", //autoplay: true, //is_has_autoplay_switch: false, bc_videos: 6379156005112, is_has_continuous_play: "false", section: "", thumbnail: "https://www.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/6379156005112-1024x576.jpg", direct_url: "https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/video/what-will-santanders-rehab-timeline-look-like-for-return-to-blue-jays/" }); });
“He’ll play a good handful of games and hopefully get some timing going,” said Blue Jays manager John Schneider earlier on Thursday. “We have a rough calendar draft, but yeah, he’s going to be playing a lot.
“I don’t think there’s many off days in that plan. Trying to get this thing going.”
Santander started Thursday with a groundout, but followed it up with a walk before belting a solo home run 396 feet off an 81.6 m.p.h. changeup in the fifth inning.
The switch-hitter only took left-handed swings on Thursday, as it’s been his right side that’s bothered him to this point. Schneider said the team would consider having him only bat left-handed, but it’s unlikely.
“It depends on how he’s doing left-handed. I think it’s tough to start him against the righty and just make a (lineup change) in the fifth inning or something like that, if he can’t hit right-handed,” said Schneider. “Ideally, he’s good for both. I think we’ll cross that bridge when we get there, and see how the games go, but see how the left-handed swings go.
“If that’s something we think is going to be good for us, then maybe.”
After grounding out in the seventh, Santander’s final plate appearance of the night ended with a walk after five pitches.
$el.after( unescape("%3Cscript src=\"" + (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://sb" : "http://b") + ".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\" %3E%3C/script%3E") );
$( document ).one( 'ready', function() { $( "#video_container-425195" ).SNPlayer( { bc_account_id: "1704050871", bc_player_id: "JCdte3tMv", //autoplay: true, //is_has_autoplay_switch: false, bc_videos: 6379149637112, is_has_continuous_play: "false", section: "", thumbnail: "https://www.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/6379149637112-1024x576.jpg", direct_url: "https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/video/blue-jays-schneider-confirms-santander-will-begin-his-rehab-with-bisons/" }); });
Santander signed a five-year, $92.5-million deal with Toronto in January after spending the first eight years of his career with the Baltimore Orioles. The former all-star was batting .179 with 33 hits, six home runs, and 18 runs batted in over 50 games for the Blue Jays.
He’ll also DH for the Bisons’ remaining two games of a three-game set against the Red Wings, after which the former Silver Slugger will spend time playing in the outfield. All in the hopes of getting Santander ready for a rapidly approaching MLB post-season with the AL East-leading Blue Jays (84-62).
“We’re kind of running out of time, you know what I mean?” said Schneider on Thursday, with less than a month left in the regular season. “We’ll see how he feels.”
— with files from the Canadian Press
Bengali (Bangladesh) · 
English (United States) ·