As the Toronto Blue Jays prepare to defend their American League crown, John Schneider opened spring training with some injury news that will have a lasting effect on the season.
Speaking to the media, Schneider announced that pitcher Bowden Francis will undergo ulnar collateral ligament surgery and miss all of 2026. Anthony Santander is set to undergo left labral shoulder surgery and will be out for five to six months. Additionally, Shane Bieber will be delayed in camp with forearm fatigue.
Out For The Season
Francis will miss the entire 2026 season. This follows a 2025 campaign where the right-handed pitcher appeared in 14 games, recording a 2–8 record, a 6.05 ERA, and a 1.53 WHIP across 64 innings. The team placed the 29-year-old on the injured list following a June 14th start in Philadelphia due to a right shoulder impingement, an injury that ultimately ended his season.
Francis was looking to bounce back in 2026 to more of his 2024 form, a year in which he went 8-5, with a 3.30 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and held opposing hitters to a .196 average against. Many fans remember Francis’ two near no-hitters, where Francis took the bid into the ninth innings.
With the surgery taking place now, Francis should return at some point during spring training 2027. If healthy, he could claim a starter’s role with pending free agents Kevin Gausman, Bieber, and José Berríos, who has an opt-out clause after next season.
Concerning Development
When the Blue Jays acquired Bieber from the Cleveland Guardians at the 2025 Major League Baseball trade deadline, the veteran right-hander was working his way back from Tommy John Surgery.
Bieber made his Blue Jays debut on August 22 in Miami. He went on to make six more regular-season starts. Across seven appearances, Bieber pitched to a 4-2 record, 3.57 ERA, and 1.02 WHIP in 40.1 innings.
The 30-year-old also pitched in five games during the playoffs. He went 2-1, with a 3.86 ERA and 1.45 WHIP. He picked up the loss in Game 7 of the World Series after allowing a home run to Will Smith in extra innings.
On November 5th, Bieber decided to exercise his $16 million player option for 2026. He was set to return as an integral part of the Blue Jays’ rotation. With a delayed start to camp, Toronto will bring him along slowly with the hope of a fully healthy regular season.
Another Injury-Plagued Season
The Blue Jays signed Santander to a five-year, $92.5 million contract last offseason. Toronto hoped the former Baltimore Oriole could provide some thump to a lineup that needed it.
The strategy did not go as planned. Santander appeared in only 54 games, batting .175 with six home runs and 18 RBIs across 194 at-bats. The 31-year-old was put on the IL in May with left shoulder inflammation. He didn’t return until September 23rd.
Santander appeared in five postseason games. He batted .200 with no home runs and two RBIs before being removed from the roster with an injury. The timeline places Santander with a chance to return around August.
The injury will clear up some of the logjam in the Blue Jays outfield. This includes George Springer, Addison Barger, Nathan Lukes, Myles Straw, Joey Loperfido, and Davis Schneider.
(Top Image Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images)
