The Toronto Blue Jays open spring training with some major injury woes.
The team announced that designated hitter Anthony Santander is set to undergo left labral surgery and will miss the next five to six months, while starter Bowden Francis is set to undergo ulnar collateral ligament surgery and will miss the entirety of the 2026 season. Righty Shane Bieber is also experiencing forearm fatigue and will delay his ramp-up.
News: Anthony Santander will undergo left labral (shoulder) surgery and miss 5-6 months. #BlueJays
— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) February 10, 2026
Santander, 31, is entering the second year of a five-year, $92.5 million deal. He appeared in only 54 games last season, missing a majority of the campaign with a shoulder ailment. In 194 at-bats, Santander batted .175 with 34 hits, six home runs, 18 runs batted in and an OPS of .565. He had three hits in five postseason games and did not play in the World Series.
After a breakout 2024, Francis was limited to only 14 starts in 2025. The 29-year-old dealt with a right shoulder impingement and was placed on the 60-day injured list in July. Francis was 2-8 with an earned run average of 6.05 and 1.531 WHIP over 64.0 innings pitched. He struck out 54 batters and walked 27.
Bieber, 30, was acquired from the Cleveland Guardians at the trade deadline and, surprisingly, opted in to a $16 million player option. He was 4-2 in seven starts with the Jays with a 3.57 ERA and 1.017 WHIP over 40.1 IP. He struck out 37 batters and walked only seven. He was 2-1 in five playoff starts.
The Blue Jays open their spring training schedule on Feb. 21 in Dunedin against the Philadelphia Phillies. Their regular season opens at Rogers Centre on Mar. 27 against the Athletics.
