Anthony Santander News Announced After Blue Jays’ Loss to Astros

Anthony Santander Finally Set for Rehab Assignment

The most encouraging development came Thursday when MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson confirmed that Santander’s Triple-A rehab assignment has, at last, begun. For the Blue Jays, it’s the clearest sign yet that their big offseason acquisition is edging closer to a return.

“News: Anthony Santander will play baseball today. His Triple-A rehab assignment, at last, has begun,” Matheson wrote on X.

Earlier in the week, there was concern after Matheson also reported that Santander’s assignment had been pushed back due to lower-back tightness while swinging, adding yet another complication to what has already been a frustrating year.

Santander has been sidelined since late May with the shoulder injury. That setback has cost him more than three months of action and prevented Toronto from getting the middle-of-the-order production it envisioned. When he was active, Santander delivered disappointing numbers, recording an OPS of .577, well below his career average.

It’s a sharp contrast to his 2024 season with Baltimore, which convinced the Blue Jays to sign him. From 2022 through 2024, Santander hit at least 28 home runs each season and was considered one of the American League’s most reliable sluggers.

Now, the start of his rehab assignment means the Jays can begin evaluating how quickly he might contribute again. Whether he can regain his power stroke in time for a postseason push remains the looming question, but this is the first tangible step toward an answer.

Blue Jays Still in Strong Position Despite Recent Slump

The timing of Santander’s return comes after a tough loss to the Houston Astros, where the Blue Jays fell 3-2 on a ninth-inning homer by Yainer Diaz. Toronto has stumbled in recent weeks, losing three of its last four and ceding the AL’s top seed to the Detroit Tigers.

Yet, the Blue Jays still lead the AL East by three games, maintaining their division edge. With the final game of their three-game series against the Astros coming Thursday, they’ll aim to rebound before facing the Orioles at home on Friday.

Having Santander back this season — even if he is limited — offers a boost in power and depth at a time when every roster piece matters down the stretch.