Anthony Santander undergoes left shoulder surgery, expected to miss most of the 2026 season.

Anthony Santander’s hoped-for rebound season has already been put on hold before starting.

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider revealed that Santander is scheduled for left shoulder labrum tear repair surgery tomorrow, with Dr. Keith Meister as the lead surgeon, expecting a recovery time of five to six months. This is another major setback for the Blue Jays’ powerful hitter, who signed a five-year, $92.5 million contract, following a year plagued by injury and poor performance in the first contract season.

Santander struggled with a persistent left shoulder issue throughout the 2025 season, which included partial dislocations and eventually developed into chronic inflammation that couldn’t be resolved. He barely managed to return for the playoffs but had to leave the American League Championship Series early due to a back injury. Now, he faces another steep road to recovery.

“He was resting and rehabilitating through November and December last year, but when he increased his hitting workload in early January, the injury flared up again,” Schneider said. “He returned to the training facility for evaluation, and we tried every non-surgical option. Considering last year’s injury management and discussions with Tony himself, surgery is the best way to ensure a full recovery. The timing is unfortunate.”

After last year’s challenges, the Blue Jays have developed a mature plan to handle such situations. Currently, the team prefers to stick to the existing strategy rather than rushing to find replacements.

“Making reinforcements now would inevitably come at a cost,” explained General Manager Ross Atkins. “Bringing in key position players means we’d have to trade away current players. We believe the current roster is capable of handling this setback.”

Last season, not only was Santander sidelined for a long period, but Daulton Varsho and Andrés Giménez also missed many games due to injuries. The Blue Jays relied on their depth to get through those difficulties, with players like Ernie Clement, Addison Barger, and Nathan Lukes stepping up impressively. The team remains confident in its depth, which is still an impressive reserve, but while maintaining the roster baseline, they also need to focus on maximizing the ceiling.

Santander’s recovery, even if limited, is critical to sustaining the team’s offensive firepower, especially considering the potential risk of decline in performance from some players. The Blue Jays’ use of internal options in 2025 was exemplary, but that season’s success was somewhat idealized. If the position players suffer more injuries, the team’s roster depth will face a serious test.

With the right field position now wide open, this will trigger a chain reaction in the infield. Barger will take over as the primary right fielder, third base will be handled by Kazuma Okamoto, and infielder Leo Jiménez, who can no longer be optioned down, will get a significant opportunity. Lukes, Myles Straw, Davis Schneider, and a host of eager rookies will also see increased playing time.

“Last year we talked about the exciting Alan Roden,” Atkins said, “and this year, RJ Schreck is a player I’m really looking forward to seeing seize the opportunity. Of course, there’s also Joey Loperfido, who you all know very well.”

The harsh realities of baseball continue to surface. Schneider also revealed today that former American League Cy Young winner Shane Bieber will slow down his season start due to right forearm fatigue, and Bowden Francis, after undergoing UCL reconstruction surgery, will miss the entire 2026 season.

However, just as pitchers and catchers prepare to report to spring training, Santander’s injury is the hardest blow the Blue Jays have faced. This team must now look elsewhere for breakthroughs and opportunities to advance.