How the Blue Jays should utilize Anthony Santander if he returns

When the Toronto Blue Jays signed Anthony Santander ahead of the 2025 season, the hope was that he would provide some middle of the order power to a team that was starving for someone to put the ball over the wall a little more consistently. Oddly enough, the Blue Jays power numbers are up from last year, but it hasn't been due to Santander's contributions.

The Blue Jays free agent signee has played all of 50 games for Toronto in 2025 and has contributed just six home runs. But he could be an under the radar returner for a Blue Jays team that is quickly losing it's lead in the AL East division race.

How the Blue Jays should utilize Anthony Santander if he returns

According to multiple reports, Santander is all of a sudden making real progress as he works his way back from his shoulder injury. Sportsnets Ben Nicholson-Smith reports that Santander is now doing full baseball activities this weekend which includes hitting on the field, running and fielding drills.

Nicholson-Smith also reports that the hope is that Santander can return to Toronto in September and he'll begin a rehab assignment as early as next weekend. Furthermore, Blue Jays beat reporter Keegan Matheson reported that the Blue Jays have Santander "doing everything" he can to make it back.

For the most part, the Blue Jays lineup has weathered the storm without Santander - but there are some holes that are starting to show, and injecting a guy with Santander's power potential into the lineup at a time when other guys need a breather could be the exact thing Toronto needs to get over the finish line and he could be inserted into the lineup depending on matchups without completely disrupting the flow of current players' playing time.

Addison Barger, Nathan Lukes and Ernie Clement are all players who could be relieved by Santander in platoon roles. While Barger has been a welcomed addition to the lineup, especially with his 18 home runs (which is third overall on the team) he's had a tough month of August, with a .193/.236/.325 slash line, with just three home runs in 23 games. For Lukes, he hit five home runs in 25 games in July, but has hit just one home run in 25 games in August. And Clement just hasn't been able to replicate his numbers against righties (three home runs, .312 SLG), that he has against lefties (six home runs, .575 SLG).

As a switch-hitter Santander could come find a role in this lineup but giving the Blue Jays a potentially better power option than the three players noted above, while letting them get more at-bats against pitchers that they should have better success against. There's no guarantee that Santander will be able to replicate his success from last season, especially after not seeing MLB pitching since May - but at this point, the Blue Jays could use all the help they can get, and that includes Santander who has hit 105 home runs over the last three seasons.