Toronto Blue Jays confident Anthony Santander will rebound in 2026
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A healthy Anthony Santander is expected to do big things for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2026.
Toronto had high expectations for Santander to be an impact player for the Blue Jays in 2025, but the injuries derailed his season.
Santander dealt with a back and shoulder injury for most of the season. Despite the disappointment, Blue Jays manager John Schneider said the team is expecting a bounce-back season for Santander.
«Tony is going to be huge for us,» said Schneider. «Speaking to him at the end of the year and in the postseason, he battled to get back. He wanted to be part of it so bad. He wanted to get off on the right foot. It didn't happen.»
Not only do the Blue Jays expect a bounce-back season, but Schneider said the team needs it as well.
«He is motivated. He is hungry to get back to the player we know he is,» Schneider added. «He's a big part of what we're doing. Again, I don't want him - I've told him this, 'I don't want you to think you have to do anything you don't do well. You don't have to come back and hit .300 with 50 homers to make up for last year.' We need Tony to fit in the way we know he can when we signed him.»
Santander predicted to lead the Blue Jays in home runs in 2026
Sportsnet's David Singh even went as far as predicting Santander will lead the team in home runs in 2026.
«Anthony Santander was one of the Blue Jays' prized off-season additions, but his campaign was essentially doomed by a left shoulder injury that he suffered in May,» Singh wrote.
«Before signing in Toronto, Santander spent eight years with Baltimore and had become an important pillar in the Orioles' clubhouse. With the Blue Jays, though, it just seemed like he never found his footing. By the time October rolled around, much was being made of the team's cohesiveness, and Santander was forgotten. That changes next year. Similar to Harper, Santander will return to form and I say he cranks out more homers than Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to lead the team.»
Santander averaged 35 homers with a 124 OPS-plus from 2022 to 2024, showing off the power.
If he can get to 35 home runs, there is a good chance he can lead the Blue Jays in home runs. It would also be a welcome sight, especially if Toronto doesn't sign Kyle Tucker or Bo Bichette.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 30 | 149 ANSWERS Toronto Blue Jays confident Anthony Santander will rebound in 2026 Do you think Anthony Santander will lead the Blue Jays in home runs in 2026? | ||
| Yes | 36 | 24.2 % |
| No | 87 | 58.4 % |
| Too early to tell | 26 | 17.4 % |
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