Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Anthony Santander will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday, manager John Schneider told reporters, including Sportsnet's David Singh.
The Blue Jays are planning for Santander to serve as the DH in his first game with Buffalo before he begins playing the outfield. He'll need several rehab games before returning to the majors, Schneider added.
Santander hasn't played at all this season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn shoulder labrum in February. He struggled last season with a .565 OPS while being limited to just 54 games due to a shoulder injury. He returned down the stretch and appeared in five playoff games, going 3-for-15 with a walk before suffering a back injury that ended his postseason.
The Blue Jays signed Santander to a five-year, $92.5-million contract in January 2025 after he slugged a career-high 44 home runs with the Baltimore Orioles in 2024.
A healthy Santander could potentially provide a late-season spark to a Blue Jays offense that ranks 28th in the majors in home runs and 27th in OPS.
