Toronto Blue Jays' Anthony Santander Returning to Spring Training After Visa Issue

Anthony Santander had to leave the Toronto Blue Jays' spring training camp to sort out his visa, but the Venezuelan slugger will be back in Florida in time for Thursday's workouts.

Dunedin, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Anthony Santander (25) participates in media day at the Blue Jays Player Development Complex. / Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Anthony Santander, the crown jewel of the Toronto Blue Jays' painstakingly-assembled 2025 free agent class, has not yet taken an at-bat in a spring training game.

Santander showed up for the first full-squad workouts and the team's picture day, but he was absent from Toronto's first few Grapefruit League contests. Manager John Schneider finally told reporters why Wednesday morning.

Per MLB.com's Keegan Matheson and Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith, Santander was away from the team sorting out his visa. He is slated to return to Florida on Wednesday, participate in workouts on Thursday and finally suit up against the Detroit Tigers on Friday.

Santander, a 30-year-old outfielder from Venezuela, inked a five-year, $92.5 million contract with the Blue Jays in January.

Anthony Santander has been away from camp sorting out his visa.

He'll be back in Dunedin tonight, go through a full day at the complex Thursday and is expected to play Friday, John Schneider says. #BlueJays

— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) February 26, 2025

In 155 games last season, Santander hit .235 with 44 home runs, 102 RBIs, an .814 OPS and a 2.9 WAR. The longtime Baltimore Orioles slugger made his first All-Star appearance, won his first Silver Slugger and finished 14th in AL MVP voting.

Since he became a regular MLB player in 2019, Santander has blasted 154 home runs – good for seventh-most in the AL in that span.

The Blue Jays are set to face the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday and the Orioles on Thursday. Santander's expected debut on Friday is scheduled to get underway at 1:07 p.m. ET.

Related MLB Stories

• SCHERZER STARTS HOT: Despite his complaints about robo-umps, Max Scherzer flashed in his spring training debut with the Blue Jays. CLICK HERE

• ALUTVE MAKING LF DEBUT: The Astros seem to be following through on moving star second baseman Jose Altuve to left field, as he will start at his new position on Friday. CLICK HERE

• TEEL TAKES SASAKI DEEP: White Sox catching prospect hit a home run off Dodgers pitching prospect Roki Sasaki in a simulated game down at spring training Tuesday. CLICK HERE

Follow Fastball On SI on social media

Continue to follow our Fastball On SI coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and by following us on Twitter @FastballFN.

You can also follow Sam Connon on Twitter @SamConnon.