The first day of spring training is supposed to be a happy day.
The first day of spring training is supposed to be a happy day, but it certainly wasn't for the Toronto Blue Jays because of a trio of really tough injury updates.
Per Mitch Bannon of The Athletic:
John Schneider provides some #BlueJays injury updates:
- Bowden Francis undergoing UCL reconstruction surgery (out for the year)
- Anthony Santander will undergo left labral surgery (will be out for 5-6 months)
- Shane Bieber will have his ramp-ump delayed, with forearm fatigue
After getting to the World Series in 2025, the Jays have designs on winning the whole thing in 2026 and this news certainly doesn't help.
About Santander
Well, the team's interest and ability to fit in Kyle Tucker this offseason certainly makes a lot more sense...
Now 31 years old, Santander was signed to a currently disastrous five-year deal before the 2025 season. After hitting 44 homers with the Baltimore Orioles in 2024, he played just 54 games because of his shoulder issues in 2025, hitting .175 with six homers and a 57 OPS+.
He came back to play in the playoffs for the Jays, but was removed from the American League Championship roster because of back problems.
He's a nine-year veteran and a one-time All-Star who is a career .241 hitter with 161 homers.
How his absence affects the roster
Well, the Blue Jays have more openings in the outfield now.
They are free to play Daulton Varsho in center field and Addison Barger in right field if they want, while also utilizing Joey Loperfido, Myles Straw, Davis Schneider, Nathan Lukes or Jonatan Clase in the outfield. Straw, Schneider and Lukes are the most likely candidates as of now.
As for Bieber
Set to turn 31 years old in May, Bieber opted into the second-year of his contract this offseason. An eight-year veteran of the Cleveland Guardians and Blue Jays, he's gone 66-34 with a 3.24 career ERA. He also won the Cy Young Award during the COVID 2020 season. He came back from a 2024 Tommy John surgery to toss 40.1 innings of 3.57 ball in 2025, while also going 2-1 in the playoffs. He had had 18 strikeouts in just over 18 innings.
He is expected to occupy one of the five rotation spots along with Dylan Cease, Trey Yesavage, Cody Ponce and Kevin Gausman - as long as he's healthy.
About Francis
With the five aforementioned starters, Jose Berrios and Eric Lauer all ahead of him, Francis really didn't have a role on this team, but this injury news is certainly a setback.
He's 11-13 over parts of four seasons with a 3.87 ERA. He made 27 appearances in 2024, going 8-5 with a 3.30 ERA.
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