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Blue Jays' Santander Out 5-6 Months After Shoulder Surgery

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The Toronto Blue Jays announced Tuesday that outfielder Anthony Santander will undergo surgery Wednesday to repair a labrum tear in his left shoulder, sidelining him for five to six months. Manager John Schneider delivered the news alongside other injury updates, including right-hander Shane Bieber's forearm fatigue and Bowden Francis's season-ending UCL reconstruction.

Santander, who signed a five-year, $92.5 million contract with Toronto last offseason after an All-Star campaign with the Baltimore Orioles, struggled with the shoulder injury throughout last season. The 31-year-old hit just .175 with six home runs and 18 RBIs in 54 games after missing nearly four months. His postseason performance was equally limited, batting .200 in five games before a back injury forced him off the ALCS roster.

This latest setback compounds a frustrating start to Santander's tenure with the Blue Jays. The team now faces the challenge of replacing a key middle-of-the-order bat while managing multiple pitching injuries. Santander's recovery timeline suggests he won't return until late summer at the earliest, leaving Toronto's lineup significantly weakened during the critical first half of the season.