Blue Jays Facing Decision After Anthony Santander News

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Josh E. Valdez | Last updated May 23, 2025 6:45 PM ET

The Toronto Blue Jays (25-24) are above .500 without 2024 All-Star Anthony Santander (hip) playing to his full potential. The 30-year-old is slashing just .188/.266/.327 with six homers and 18 RBI through 43 games this season.

The Blue Jays beat the San Diego Padres 7-6 without the injured Santander on Thursday. However, the 6-foot, 230-pounder smashed a two-run homer in Tuesday's 3-0 win and went 1-for-3 in their 14-0 victory on Wednesday.

Despite his contact hitting woes, Santander is tied for second on Toronto in home runs and is third with 18 walks. With that being said, the club will have to roll without the outfielder/designated hitter again vs. the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider provided an update on Santander's progress before the game, via MLB.com's Keegan Matheson.

"John Schneider says the Blue Jays will try to ramp up Anthony Santander a bit more today and tomorrow before they decide on a potential IL stint," he reported.

“We’ll see how tomorrow goes," Schneider said. "I would say by tomorrow or Sunday, yeah, with the quick turnaround into the day game Sunday.”

John Schneider says the #BlueJays will try to ramp up Anthony Santander a bit more today and tomorrow before they decide on a potential IL stint:

“We’ll see how tomorrow goes. I would say by tomorrow or Sunday, yeah, with the quick turnaround into the day game Sunday.”
— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) May 23, 2025

Toronto will once again start fellow outfielder Nathan Lukes in right field on Friday. The 30-year-old hit a walkoff single in the 11th inning on Thursday, and is slashing .265/.374/.434 with four homers and 16 RBI through 34 games.

Meanwhile, veteran outfielder George Springer will be the designated hitter. The 35-year-old is slashing .262/.372/.455 with five homers and 18 RBI across 46 games.

Santander has taken 107 at-bats as a designated hitter, 39 as a right fielder and 19 as a left fielder this season.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: