Anthony Santander singles in second rehab game with Triple-A Buffalo
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Sep 12, 2026, 07:00 EDTUpdated: Sep 12, 2026, 09:17 EDT
Anthony Santander took another step closer to rejoining the Toronto Blue Jays.
On Friday night, Santander appeared in his second rehab game with Triple-A Buffalo as he attempts to make a late-season return following surgery to repair a torn left labrum in his shoulder.
After going 0-for-4 as the designated hitter on Wednesday, Santander went 1-for-3 with a single and played six innings in left field during the Bisons’ 2-1 loss against the Charlotte Knights.
In his first at-bat of the evening against Knights left-hander Shane Murphy, Santander popped out to catcher Korey Lee on a 1-0, 89.8 MPH fastball. The plate appearance was Santander’s first as a right-handed hitter after taking all four at-bats from the left side in his first rehab game.
Facing Murphy once again in the top of the fourth with the Bisons down 2-0, Santander lined a 1-0 changeup from the left-hander into centre field for a single. The ball came off Santander’s bat with an exit velocity of 106.1 MPH.
In his final at-bat of the evening, Santander squared off with Murphy once again, but the left-hander got him to pop out to second base with an 86.4 MPH cutter on the first pitch of the at-bat.
If Santander does join the Blue Jays’ 28-man roster, the 31-year-old is expected to see most of his playing time in the outfield. Santander caught the only ball he was tested with on Friday, but is expected to continue playing in the outfield with the Bisons into next week.
With the Blue Jays sitting tied for 27th in the majors with 142 home runs, the goal is for Santander to provide a power boost to a lineup that so desperately needs it.
Signed to a five-year, $92.5-million contract last off-season, Santander appeared in only 54 games during his first season in Toronto and batted .175 with six home runs and 18 RBIs. Santander got into five playoff games last season and batted .200 with two RBIs before being removed from the American League Championship Series roster due to a back injury.
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