Anthony Santander is finally getting closer, and John Schneider gave the Blue Jays their clearest sign yet that the long rehab may be starting to turn. Schneider said Santander is scheduled to begin hitting “either this weekend or next,” which would mark the next real step in his comeback from left shoulder surgery.
That matters because Santander's 2026 season was wiped out before it even really began. MLB.com reported in February that he underwent left labral surgery and was expected to miss 5 to 6 months, a brutal blow for a hitter Toronto signed to a 5-year, $92.5 million deal before the 2025 season.(mlb.com)
So when Schneider says Santander could start hitting soon, that is not some minor checkpoint. It is the first sign the Blue Jays may finally be getting back into the part of the recovery where baseball activity matters more than just medical waiting. This is an inference based on Schneider's reported update and the original 5-to-6-month timeline.(mlb.com)
Schneider also left the door open for something bigger. “There's a shot he could definitely be a factor,” he said, which is the kind of wording a manager uses when he still sees a path to real contribution later in the season. This is based on the user-provided quote.
That does not mean Santander is close to stepping into the lineup card next week. The road from here is still long, and Schneider himself made it sound like a full, slow spring training build-up rather than a quick rehab sprint. This is based on the user-provided quote.
-
Toronto is still dealing with a long runway
That is the part Blue Jays fans need to keep in view. Starting to hit is good news. It is not finish-line news.
A shoulder injury like this asks for patience, especially for a power hitter who needs full strength from both sides of the plate. Santander's bat is not just about making contact. It is about damage, lift, and being able to trust the shoulder through a full swing. This is an inference based on his role as a switch-hitting power bat recovering from shoulder surgery.
NBC Sports noted Thursday that Santander is currently targeting an August return, which fits the longer timetable Toronto appears to be following. (nbcsports.com)
That is why Schneider's update lands as cautious optimism, not a promise. The Blue Jays are not saying Anthony Santander is almost back. They are saying the comeback is finally moving again, and that gives Toronto at least a real reason to believe its missing slugger still has a chance to matter before the season is over.
Will Anthony Santander make a real impact for the Blue Jays later this season?
Also read on Blue Jays Insider :
Blue Jays acquire new outfielder with offensive upside
