Anthony Santander is one step closer to his MLB returm.
The Toronto Blue Jays outfielder went 2-for-4 with a double, a single and a walk in a rehab game at triple-A with the Buffalo Bisons on Saturday as he continues to work his way back from left shoulder surgery he underwent in February.
Santander was serving as designated hitter in a loss to the Rochester Red Wings.
After picking up a single on Friday — when he played seven innings in the outfield — Santander led off Saturday's game for the Bisons with a soft fly-ball base hit to right.
He then flew out in the third, struck out in the fifth and worked a seven-pitch walk in the seventh.
In the ninth, Santander sprung for extra bases against Red Wings reliever Jake Bird, lining a two-strike fastball down the right-field line to score a run from second. He was eventually stranded on third as the game ended 7-3.
Saturday marked Santander's fourth game of this rehab stint. He initially took the field for the Bisons in a pair of games last week, but was scratched from Buffalo's lineup on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week with mid-back discomfort.
He is now 4-for-15 with one walk and three strikeouts across those four appearances for the Bisons.
Buffalo's season concludes on Sunday, when Santander is expected to play a full nine innings in the outfield. Toronto will then decide what comes next for the 2024 Silver Slugger award winner.
If the Blue Jays decide he isn't quite able to join the team for their final playoff push after the weekend, he will join a "stay-ready" group of players in Buffalo, taking live at-bats and getting reps in case anything changes with the major-league team.
Santander signed a five-year, $92.5-million contract with the Blue Jays in the 2024-25 off-season and hasn't played yet this season. He also missed most of last year with an injury to the same shoulder.
In his limited games last season, he slashed .175/.271/.294 with a .565 OPS and six homers.
