Anthony Santander Undergoes Labral Surgery; Out 5-6 Months

This article outlines the Blue Jays’ latest setback with outfielder Anthony Santander, who’s set for left labral surgery and will miss five to six months. Here’s a look at how this injury shakes up Toronto’s plans for the 2026 season.

Recovery timeline and 2026 outlook

Anthony Santander has left labral surgery scheduled for Wednesday, and that’ll keep him out for about five to six months. The setback came in January, just as he was gearing up for the year, so Toronto’s hopes for a quick return took a hit.

The Blue Jays still hope he can make it back before the 2026 campaign wraps up. But let’s be honest, this injury adds yet another headache in a season already loaded with health concerns.

Santander’s first year in Toronto? Rough. He dealt with shoulder inflammation that sidelined him two months, then a back injury ended his postseason. After signing a five-year, $92.5 million deal, he only played 59 games, counting playoffs, and hit just .175/.271/.294 with six homers in 221 plate appearances.

He’s 31 and came off a monster year in Baltimore—44 homers, Silver Slugger, the works. In Toronto, he split time between the outfield and DH, started 22 games in the field, 30 as DH, and even logged an inning at first base. His defense has been, well, not great lately (OAA -2, DRS about neutral), so the Jays were banking on his bat to make up for it.

Now, with Santander out, Toronto has to rethink 2026. The lineup loses a big bat, and the team faces a longer grind without him in the middle of things.

GM Ross Atkins says the club isn’t “significantly” chasing another outfielder at the moment. The Jays are planning to cover the corners from within, leaning on depth and versatility to soften the blow. They’ll have to squeeze more production from players already in the system, especially since the outfield market is crowded and the lineup keeps shifting.

Outfield depth and roster implications

The Jays’ immediate plan? Stick with what they’ve got. Toronto’s counting on internal options to step up and fill Santander’s shoes.

The coaching staff and front office want to keep things flexible, mixing and matching to keep the lineup balanced all season.

• Addison Barger and Nathan Lukes look set for corner outfield duties. They’re young, controllable, and maybe ready to take on bigger roles.
• Davis Schneider and Myles Straw should give them some platoon options and late-inning defense, which helps the pitching staff and lets them play matchups.
• George Springer is still the main DH, anchoring the lineup while Santander heals. He’s also the veteran voice in the room, which counts for something when things get rocky.

Toronto’s taking a calculated risk here. They trust their prospect pipeline and internal depth to ride out a long absence, and honestly, 2026 looks more like a year for development and figuring things out than a quick fix. The front office says the focus is on staying competitive while Santander rehabs, not making a panic move that could mess up their flexibility down the road.

Santander’s track record and what’s at stake

Let’s put this setback in perspective. Santander’s career year with Baltimore vaulted him into a more prominent role among MLB’s upper echelon of power hitters.

With 44 homers and a Silver Slugger, he established himself as a game-changing bat. His 2024–25 stint in Toronto, though, got messy—injuries and inconsistent production just wouldn’t let up.

In 59 games for the Blue Jays, he hit .175 with a .271 on-base percentage and .294 slugging. He managed six homers across 221 plate appearances, but it never really clicked.

Shoulder inflammation nagged him, then a lingering back issue popped up in the postseason. Combined with a limited defensive footprint, it created a tricky equation for Toronto’s balance of offense and defense.

In the field, Santander split time between outfield and DH. He made 22 starts in the grass and 30 at DH, with just one inning at first base tossed in.

Defensive metrics haven’t been kind lately (OAA -2, DRS neutral). That’s a real factor as Toronto weighs the risk and reward of adding more outfield reinforcements.

The Jays are managing the short-term loss, but they’re also laying groundwork for a 2026 rotation that can absorb a midseason return. If Santander’s healthy, he could still keep the lineup potent when he’s back in the mix.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Anthony Santander To Undergo Shoulder Surgery, Out 5-6 Months