Anthony Santander could take another important step in his injury recovery next week.
The Blue Jays are hoping Santander can start a rehab stint with triple-A Buffalo as soon as next Tuesday, when the Bisons begin a road series in nearby Rochester, N.Y, Sportsnet’s Arden Zwelling reported Wednesday.
The switch-hitter will travel with the Blue Jays to New York this weekend to get more right-handed reps with the bat before games against the Yankees. The plan is for Santander to get at least five rehab games in before he returns to the major-league club.
Santander hit, ran and took part in fielding drills last week in Toronto. Zwelling says the left-handed swing has progressed further than Santander’s right-handed swing.
The outfielder has been out since May 29 due to a left shoulder subluxation he sustained crashing into a wall in a game against the Los Angeles Angels.
Santander struggled during the first two months of the season, hitting for a .179 average and .577 OPS with six home runs.
The 30-year-old signed a five-year, $92.5-million contract with the Blue Jays in the off-season that includes a third-year opt-out, sixth-year team option and deferred money.
Santander hit a career-best 44 home runs with the Baltimore Orioles in 2024 and could offer both power and versatility as a switch-hitter to the Blue Jays lineup.