Blue Jays Drop Anthony Santander from ALCS Roster
Major League Baseball has confirmed the change in the Toronto Blue Jays’ playoff roster, as Anthony Santander has been replaced by Joey Loperfido. Manager John Schneider announced that Santander is sidelined due to back stiffness, effectively ending his season.
Details of the Roster Change
Each team is required to finalize their postseason rosters at the start of each series. Changes due to injury are permitted only during the series. Once a player is removed, he cannot participate in upcoming series if his team progresses further.
- Removed Player: Anthony Santander
- Replacement: Joey Loperfido
Anthony Santander’s Season Overview
Injuries heavily impacted Santander’s first season with the Blue Jays. He missed significant gameplay from late May until mid-September due to a left shoulder injury. Returning late in the regular season, Santander participated in five of the Blue Jays’ seven postseason games but struggled with lower back soreness.
- Postseason Performance: 3 hits in 15 at-bats
- Runs Batted In: 2
- Games Played: Missed Game 2 of the ALCS; replaced in Game 3
Joey Loperfido’s Role
Loperfido steps up as a left-handed bat for the team. During the regular season, he showcased a solid performance, with a batting average of .333 across 41 games. Though he has been inactive during the postseason, he emerges as the leading candidate to fill in for Santander.
Lineup Adjustments
With Santander out, there have been shifts in the team’s lineup. Isiah Kiner-Falefa has taken the second base position, batting eighth against Luis Castillo. This alignment has also resulted in Ernie Clement moving to third base, pushing Addison Barger from third base to right field.
Roster Considerations
The Blue Jays have maintained the same 13 position players throughout the Division Series and the ALCS. The absence of Bo Bichette and Ty France due to injuries has limited available options for the team. Leo Jiménez has also ended his season on the Triple-A injured list.
Initial reports regarding Santander’s removal from the roster were provided by Mitch Bannon and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Ben Nicholson-Smith was the first to confirm Loperfido’s replacement.
