Encouraging signs from Anthony Santander as Blue Jays begin weighing ALCS roster decisions

The power has yet to return for Santander. However, the veteran slugger delivered a few of his best ABs of the season in the ALDS, regaining his timing and hitter’s eye in the box. With any luck, trusting that process should eventually result in a home run or two as the Blue Jays play deeper into October.

Hitting from the left side remains more comfortable for Toronto’s switch-hitter as he continues to recover from a left shoulder injury that limited him to just 54 regular-season games. But, as his two-run single in Game 3 proved, he’s also capable of making an impact as a right-handed hitter.

It’s all about simplifying his approach. Not only is that placing less strain on his shoulder, but it’s also helping him put balls in play and do whatever’s necessary to help his team win.

“Knowing that I’m not 100 per cent in my shoulder, I’m not trying to do too much, even though my swing looks better than before,” Santander told reporters on Wednesday, including Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi. “I have to control it and don’t swing too hard, just keep putting the ball in play. That’s the [style of play] we have, we don’t strike out much, so I have to keep having good ABs and at some point the homers are going to come, hopefully.”

Santander may be swinging at less than 100 per cent right now, but he still produced some of his fastest swings of the season versus the Yankees. For example, he turned on a 0-0 middle-middle sinker from lefty Tim Hill in Game 1 that was clocked at 79.3 m.p.h. — his fastest swing since Apr. 27 (79.5) — fouling it down the left-field line with an exit velocity of 114.6.

In that same at-bat, Santander unleashed another quality swing while flying out to centre field, this time at 78.8 m.p.h.

At the same time, as much progress as the 2024 All-Star has displayed recently, there’s a chance he’s left off Toronto’s ALCS roster if Bo Bichette (left knee) returns for the next round. If he does, it’ll likely be as a full-time DH, pushing George Springer to the outfield and potentially Santander out of the mix.

Defence, or a lack thereof, would be among the main concerns here. The Blue Jays probably want to avoid a Santander-Varsho-Springer outfield trio at all costs. But they might be able to sneak by with that combination in games started by Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber and Chris Bassitt (if rostered) — none of whom are considered fly-ball pitchers — before inserting Myles Straw as a late-game defensive replacement.

Santander could also be featured as a pinch-hitter, though his off-the-bench opportunities would likely be limited to left-handed-hitting platoon situations. And if he makes the cut, it may force the club’s brass to carry 14 position players — assuming Isiah Kiner-Falefa also earns a roster spot for defensive purposes — and only 12 pitchers (possibly eight relievers, down from 10 in the ALDS).

There are no easy decisions from here. That’s both the luxury and a complicated dilemma of featuring a deep roster of more than 26 players, and Santander’s recent improvements have only made things even more tricky. But this team likely wouldn’t have it any other way.