Anthony Santander is "making progress" in his recovery from left labrum surgery, John Schneider told reporters Friday.
Santander has begun hitting off a tee at the team's player development complex in Florida, a real step forward as he continues working back from the operation he had in February.
The 31-year-old switch hitter was placed on the 60-day injured list March 25th, with an initial return timeline of five to six months.
Keegan Matheson reported last month that Santander received a cortisone shot after feeling something in the surgically repaired shoulder, a real setback along an already long road back.
Santander has played in just 54 games for Toronto since signing a five-year, $92.5 million deal ahead of 2025, a disappointing return so far on a significant investment.
An All-Star with Baltimore in 2024, he slashed just .175/.271/.294 with six home runs and 18 RBIs in 2025, a season marred by shoulder inflammation that cost him three months before he returned for the final two series ahead of the playoffs.
He played in five playoff games before being removed from the ALCS roster with back inflammation, a rough finish to an already difficult season.
Why Garcia's situation remains far less clear
Schneider also updated reliever Yimi Garcia, who like Santander has yet to appear for Toronto in 2026.
Garcia was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome last week, but the team still hasn't determined a treatment plan, Schneider said, according to The Athletic's Mitch Bannon.
Garcia, an impending free agent, has made just 22 appearances for Toronto over the past two years, posting a 3.86 ERA across 21 innings, a small sample that reflects how limited his availability has been.
Santander's tee work represents real, tangible progress with a clear next step, while Garcia's situation still lacks even a defined path forward.
It's a bit like watching two different renovation projects, one finally past the planning stage and into actual construction, the other still waiting on a contractor to even show up.
Does Santander's progress suggest a real chance to see him back on the field this season, or is his recovery still too early in the process to know for sure?
Are you optimistic Anthony Santander returns to play for the Blue Jays at some point this season?
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