Santander Homers in Triple-A Rehab Game – Blue Jays

Santander’s⁣ Power Surge in Buffalo Signals Potential Blue ⁤Jays Boost

Buffalo, NY – Blue Jays fans, hold onto your hats! Slugger Anthony Santander, sidelined since May 29th ‍with a⁣ nagging shoulder injury, launched a promising rehab assignment with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons ‍on Thursday.In a game against the Rochester Red Wings,Santander showcased the⁤ power ‍Toronto has been missing,going⁢ 1-for-3 with‍ a‍ home run,two walks,and an RBI in the Bisons’ 8-7 ⁢loss.

The 30-year-old, who inked ⁢a ‍five-year, $92.5 ‍million deal with the⁣ Blue Jays this past January, has been itching to get back ⁤on the⁢ field. ⁤A bout of‍ back tightness delayed his rehab start earlier in the week, ⁢but Santander didn’t show any signs of⁤ rust at the⁣ plate. After a groundout to start the game, he ⁤walked and then ⁣blasted a solo home run 396 feet off an 81.6 mph changeup in⁤ the fifth inning. He later walked ⁣again in⁣ the seventh, capping off a productive night.

Manager ⁣John Schneider emphasized the importance of getting Santander back into game shape quickly. “He’ll play a good handful of games and hopefully get some timing going,” Schneider said. “We have a rough ⁤calendar draft, but yeah, he’s going to be playing a lot.” The⁣ plan is aggressive, with few off days scheduled, reflecting the⁢ urgency to get Santander ready for the stretch run.

Interestingly, Santander only swung left-handed ⁣during the game, a precaution ⁤given the right-side discomfort that has plagued him. While the team is considering having him bat exclusively left-handed, Schneider acknowledged the challenges of such a move. “It depends on how he’s doing left-handed,” Schneider explained. “Ideally, he’s good for both.”

Santander will continue ⁣his⁢ rehab assignment as the designated hitter‍ for the remaining two games‍ against the Red wings. The next step involves getting him back in the outfield, all⁤ with the goal ⁢of preparing him for a potential playoff push with ⁢the AL East-leading Blue Jays (84-62).

“We’re kind of running out of time, you know what I ⁤mean?” Schneider admitted, with the regular season winding down. “We’ll see how he feels.”

Santander’s return could provide a important boost to the Blue Jays lineup. Before his injury, the former All-Star and Silver Slugger was batting .179 with 6 home runs and 18 RBIs in 50 games. If he can regain his form, Santander could be a key piece in Toronto’s quest for a ⁢deep playoff run. Blue Jays fans will be watching closely as he continues his rehab assignment, hoping to see the power hitter back in⁢ the heart of their lineup soon.