Blue Jays place Anthony Santander on 10-day IL, recall Alan Roden from triple-A Buffalo

Santander hasn’t looked like himself for most of this season, particularly in recent weeks. He’s been nursing a right hip injury lately, making his current IL placement because of a shoulder ailment even more curious.

It’s been a struggle for the switch-hitting slugger thus far, as he’s hit a measly six home runs in 50 games during his first season in Toronto after inking a lucrative five-year, $92.5-million contract over the off-season. He’s also currently slashing .179/.273/.304 with a well-below-average 67 wRC+, posting a career-worst 26.3-per-cent strikeout rate. That is, however, accompanied by a career-high 11.5-per-cent walk rate.

Roden, meanwhile, had been tearing up triple-A pitchers since being optioned down earlier this season. In 18 games with Buffalo, the left-handed-hitting outfielder blasted nine extra-base hits — including three home runs — while driving in 12 and slashing .361/.446/.583 with an eye-popping 179 wRC+. The 25-year-old also earned more walks (nine) than strikeouts (seven).

While Toronto is heavy on outfielders, with George Springer, Daulton Varsho, Nathan Lukes, Myles Straw and Jonatan Clase already in the mix, Roden should receive regular opportunities versus right-handed pitching moving forward as the club will likely want him playing as often as possible.

With Santander now on the IL, there should be more opportunities for Springer to occupy the DH spot, opening additional reps in right field in the short term.

Roden will be an option to come off the bench as a pinch hitter on Friday. But he’ll probably draw into Saturday’s starting lineup with right-hander Gunnar Hoglund — traded by the Blue Jays in the 2022 Matt Chapman deal — facing off against the organization that selected him 19th overall in ’19.