Forgotten Toronto Blue Jays slugger set to make triumphant return

The Toronto Blue Jays are deep in a race for the final American League Wild Card spot, and they could soon get some help from a former MLB All-Star who has been sidelined for almost a year.

According to Sportsnet's Arden Zwelling, forgotten Blue Jays slugger Anthony Santander will begin a rehab assignment with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons on Wednesday.

Santander has missed the entire 2026 MLB season after undergoing left labrum surgery in February. The procedure came after Santander had a frustrating first season in Toronto, appearing in just 54 of 162 games while dealing with left shoulder inflammation.

Zwelling hinted that if Santander's rehab goes well in Buffalo, Blue Jays fans could see the switch-hitting power bat back in Toronto sooner rather than later.

Anthony Santander will begin a rehab assignment with the triple-A Buffalo Bisons on Wednesday

Plan is for him to DH his first game and then begin playing the outfield. He'll need several games to regain timing before Blue Jays activate him.

— Arden Zwelling (@ArdenZwelling) September 8, 2026

The current timeline suggests that could happen as soon as the Sept. 14 series against the Detroit Tigers at Rogers Centre.

The Blue Jays plan to have Santander serve as the designated hitter in his first rehab game before getting him back into the outfield. With nearly 11 months having passed since his last MLB at-bat, the team will want him to regain his timing and confidence at the plate before activating him.

And Santander could provide a much-needed offensive boost to a Blue Jays team that has struggled to score runs and hit for power this season, ranking among the league's worst teams.

Toronto signed the 31-year-old to a five-year, $92.5 million contract following his breakout 2024 season with the Baltimore Orioles, where he crushed 44 home runs and drove in 102 runs.

In his 54 games as a Blue Jay, Santander has hit six home runs and recorded 18 RBIs.

Anthony Santander has missed 253 regular-season games since signing with the Blue Jays ahead of the 2025 MLB season. (Nick Turchiaro/Imagn Images)

Santander isn't the only injured Blue Jays player who could return in time to help Toronto's playoff push.

Right-handed starter Trey Yesavage also began his rehab assignment with a 34-pitch bullpen session in Dunedin, Fla., on Monday, and could potentially rejoin the rotation before the end of the season.

With 17 games remaining, Toronto currently sits one game behind the Cleveland Guardians for the final AL Wild Card spot.

The Blue Jays also have a slight advantage over Cleveland when it comes to their schedule, as they won't face a team with a winning record for the remainder of the season.