Blue Jays' Anthony Santander facing serious scrutiny amid teams power outage
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Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Anthony Santander faces serious scrutiny as the teams lack of power leaves the Jays up a creek without a paddle.
The Blue Jays batting order, once feared, doesn't scare anyone anymore. Toronto has scored four runs in its last five games, matching its fewest in such a span since August 1990., the team has been shut out twice and managed to score only a meager two runs in total.
Even in their lone victory over the Rangers, the win was a narrow 2-1 affair. This pattern of sporadic offensive production has plagued the Blue Jays throughout the season.
Alarmingly, their power at the plate has diminished, with the team hitting a mere 46 home runs, placing them 26th in the league.
Amid this power outage, Daulton Varsho emerges as a solitary beacon of hope, leading the team with eight home runs in just 21 games.
Anthony Santander: A High-Profile Struggle
Central to the Blue Jays' offensive woes is Anthony Santander, a player from whom much was expected but who has thus far failed to deliver.
Santander, who crossed over from the Baltimore Orioles, was seen as a key acquisition to bolster Toronto's lineup with his power-hitting prowess.
Following a season where he smashed 44 home runs and drove in 102 runs, expectations were sky-high. However, Santander's transition to the Blue Jays has been anything but smooth.
With a paltry six home runs and five doubles to his name by May 27, Santander's performance has been a shadow of his former self.
His slugging percentage has plummeted to .315, a stark contrast to the .506 mark he posted last year.
This dramatic drop in production has not gone unnoticed, with Santander finding himself on a list of players who must urgently find their form to salvage their teams' fortunes.
The Weight of Expectations
Santander's struggles are magnified by the significant investment Toronto made in him a five-year, $92.5 million contract that could escalate to $110 million over six years.
This hefty price tag came with the expectation that Santander would be a major offensive force, a role he has yet to fulfill. Currently, with a -9 Batting Run Value, his contribution has been decidedly negative.
Without any notable impact as a base runner or fielder, Santander's value to the team hinges entirely on his batting, an area where he is visibly struggling.
As the Blue Jays navigate through this challenging phase, the spotlight on Santander grows ever brighter.
Injuries have been part of Santander's story. He banged up his shoulder in Anaheim earlier this month when he dove into the stands for a foul ball, and soon after returning, his left hip flared up.
There have been points where the switch-hitting Santander hasn't been able to swing from the right side, and he's openly said that he's playing below 100%.
"Anthony Santander has said that his shoulder/hip issues are helping him limit big swings, which should help him make more contact, but that's not his game. His game is a .240 average with 30+ homers. I don't think we're seeing him close to his natural self right now." - Keegan Matheson
For Toronto to reignite its season and live up to its potential, players like Santander must rediscover their form. The journey ahead is fraught with pressure, but it also presents an opportunity for redemption.
The Blue Jays have gotten a combined -0.5 fWAR from offseason additions Max Scherzer, Anthony Santander, and Andres Gimenez so far this season.
For Santander and the Blue Jays, the coming weeks are not just about salvaging a season; they're about reclaiming an identity built on power, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of victory.
Should the Blue Jays let Santander ride out his injuries and figure it out or should they put him on the IL and wait until he is fully healed up?
Tell us what you think in the poll below.
| POLL | ||
MAI 28 | 92 ANSWERS Blue Jays' Anthony Santander facing serious scrutiny amid teams power outage Should the Blue Jays let Santander ride out his injuries and figure it out or should they put him on the IL and wait until he is fully healed up? | ||
| Ride out his injuries | 19 | 20.7 % |
| Put him on the IL | 73 | 79.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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