The Toronto Blue Jays received dangerous information on Tuesday as they appear forward to defending their AL pennant.
Right fielder Anthony Santander wants surgical procedure on his left labrum and is predicted to miss 5-6 months. The latter finish of that timeline initiatives a return someday in August, nicely previous the All-Star break.
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Manager John Schneider introduced the information to reporters Tuesday. Santander will possible miss greater than half the season on the heels of taking part in simply 54 video games in his first season in Toronto in 2025.
Contract to this point not paying off for Blue Jays
Santander, 31, made his first All-Star crew in 2024 as a member of the rival Baltimore Orioles, sending him into the offseason as one of many higher hitters accessible in free company. He joined the Blue Jays that offseason on a five-year $92.5 million contract.
Various accidents together with to his shoulder restricted Santander to 54 regular-season video games in 2025. He returned for the ultimate week of the common season and performed 5 postseason video games within the ALDS in opposition to the Yankees and the ALCS in opposition to the Mariners.
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But the Blue Jays eliminated him from their ALCS roster earlier than Game 4 with a again damage, and he didn’t make Toronto’s World Series roster.
Why have the surgical procedure now?
Schneider told reporters Tuesday that Santander was “feeling good after the season” and that the purpose this offseason was to keep away from surgical procedure whereas resting and rehabbing in November in December.
But he skilled a setback when he returned to hitting in January, and the Blue Jays and Santander finally opted for surgical procedure. He’ll have the process on Wednesday, greater than three months after the conclusion of Toronto’s season of their Game 7 loss to the Dodgers within the World Series.
“Unfortunate with the timing, obviously, after the season he had too, for sure,” Schneider stated. “But just a setback after he started hitting and ramping up in January.”