Santander (shoulder) could be back for Blue Jays' playoff run

TORONTO -- Don’t close the book on Anthony Santander’s season yet.

Finally, after months of uncertainty and a slow build that’s rarely felt like it would get anywhere close to reality in 2025, it feels like there’s a shot for Santander to return in time for the postseason.

Prior to Friday’s big series opener against the Brewers at Rogers Centre, Santander was “doing everything,” including regular rounds of batting practice and throwing in the field. He’ll keep this rolling through the weekend, then travel to Cincinnati with the team for a series there beginning Monday. If all goes well, the Blue Jays are hopeful he can begin rehab games late next week, which could put him on track to be ready later in September.

Obviously, everyone in this organization wants the version of Santander they signed last winter to a five-year, $92.5 million deal. They want the 44-homer bat from Baltimore a year ago. Santander opened the 2025 season batting just .179 with a .577 OPS, though, too often stuck battling through injury before his shoulder issue eventually landed him on the IL. There are far more variables at play here than in a typical rehab, but manager John Schneider expects much of this to take care of itself.

“Everyone understands where we are, knowing that we want the best version of everyone,” Schneider said. “We’ll decide then. He can definitely help us with the power profile and potential. If that’s there, it’s not just plugging him in there every day. It’s about seeing what other people are doing when he is back. I wouldn’t say ‘difficult.’ I think he’ll know when he’s ready, too.”

Working with a best-case scenario here, Santander would have until September 21 -- the final day of the Triple-A season -- to ramp up with the Buffalo Bisons. Surely, the Blue Jays would want to see him play a couple of weeks' worth of games, first ramping up the at-bats and then playing the field. Results are going to matter to a certain extent, but they aren’t everything.

“Just bat speed, exit velocity, signs like that,” Schneider said. “I don’t care if he lines out 20 times. I just want to see signs of him being back to his best.”

Then comes the matter of Santander’s fit. The Blue Jays will need to be conscious of George Springer, first and foremost, given that the DH spot has been so important to the 35-year-old veteran this season.

All of these DH days have helped Springer stay fresh, which is the foundation of his resurgent season. Springer hasn’t just played better baseball, he’s become the identity of this team again, capable of changing a game in the box and on the bases. Similarly to how the rest of the Blue Jays’ rotation is shaping itself around Shane Bieber, the return of Santander would have to shape itself around Springer’s reps to a certain extent.

“They’d kind of split it,” Schneider said. “George is fine playing the outfield. Whenever Tony does get playing in Triple-A, he’ll play in the outfield, too, so that’s an option. The fact that he’s feeling better is good, then I want him to be clicking when he comes back, not tentative or anything. I want him to be able to produce.”

There are still miles to go here, but there’s finally a path. Everything still needs to go right, but if it does, there’s still a shot for Santander to show everyone why the Blue Jays made him their biggest splash of the offseason.