The Anthony Santander comeback has officially been put on hold until 2027.

Ahead of Friday’s 6-5 win over the Cincinnati Reds, Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider announced that Santander had recently returned to the player development complex in Dunedin, Fla., and was no longer part of their stay-ready group in Buffalo, signalling the end of another injury-shortened campaign.

The 31-year-old switch-hitter — now past the second season of his five-year, $92.5 million contract — concluded his Triple-A rehab assignment — temporarily paused due to back soreness — last weekend, finishing with four hits (three singles) and one run batted in across 21 plate appearances in five games with the Bisons. During that span, he made three starts in left field and served as the club’s DH in the other two.

But now that Santander — who’s still participating in baseball activities and has been taking regular swings at the PDC — is shut down for the rest of the season, plans are already in motion to map out his off-season game plan, which the Blue Jays have yet to finalize, per Schneider.

With the Blue Jays playing out the final series of their 2026 season this weekend, and having now been eliminated from post-season contention, there was a potential pathway to activating Santander for these final three games. That would’ve given the team a last-minute look at his progress late in the year. At the same time, though, there wouldn’t have been much to gather from a minuscule sample size — even against major-league pitching.

Having Santander return would also mean taking a roster and at-bats away from someone else. Considering he hasn’t played a single game at this level since last October, it’s easy to see why the organization ultimately decided against that scenario.

Everyone’s focus now shifts to ensuring Santander enters next spring in the best possible position to hit the ground running. He should be 100 per cent recovered from shoulder surgery, which he’ll also be a full year removed from come next February. Even as a notorious slow starter, that should, in theory, boost his chances of bouncing back in ’27.

That likely isn’t something the Blue Jays can bet the farm on, though, meaning it’ll be crucial to procure another impact hitter before next season arrives — whenever that time is.

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