Anthony Santander Bio
Anthony Roger Santander, born October 19, 1994, is a Venezuelan professional baseball outfielder who plays for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB). A switch-hitter with notable power, he previously spent most of his MLB career with the Baltimore Orioles after being selected in the 2016 Rule 5 Draft. He made his major league debut in 2017, was named an All-Star in 2024, and earned the Silver Slugger Award that same season.
Early Life and Background
Anthony Roger Santander was born on Margarita Island, off the coast of Venezuela, in the state of Nueva Esparta. Although born on the island, he grew up in and feels more closely connected to the mainland municipality of Agua Blanca, where family ties remain strong and where he returns each winter. His upbringing in this tight-knit community helped shape his early connection to the game of baseball and provided a steady foundation as he pursued the sport seriously from a young age.
Path to Baseball
Santander signed with the Cleveland Indians as an international free agent on July 2, 2011, beginning his professional path at age 16. He made his professional debut in 2012 with the Arizona League Indians and then spent the 2013 through 2015 seasons developing with the Lake County Captains. He battled a right elbow strain during that stretch, missing part of 2014, but continued his climb in 2016 with the Lynchburg Hillcats, where he posted a .290 batting average with 20 home runs and 95 runs batted in. That breakout performance drew the attention of other organizations.
Anthony Santander Career
Early Career (2017–2018)
The Baltimore Orioles selected Santander from the Indians in the 2016 Rule 5 Draft, and he made his major league debut on August 18, 2017, at Camden Yards against the Los Angeles Angels. In his first 30 at bats he batted .267, giving Baltimore an early look at his offensive potential. His first extended big league opportunity came soon after, and he steadily earned a more permanent role in the outfield.
Baltimore Orioles Breakthrough (2019–2021)
Santander began establishing himself as a middle-of-the-order presence in 2019, recording his first five-hit game in an 8–3 home win over the Tampa Bay Rays on August 25 of that year. He finished that season with 20 home runs and 59 runs batted in across 93 games. In the shortened 2020 campaign he batted .261/.315/.575 with 11 home runs and 32 RBI in 37 games, earning the 2020 Louis M. Hatter Most Valuable Oriole Award from members of the local media. After his 2021 salary was set at $2.1 million through arbitration, he continued to grow into one of the Orioles’ most productive bats.
Baltimore Orioles Prime (2022–2024)
In 2022, Santander tied an MLB record set by Ken Caminiti in 1996 by hitting home runs from both sides of the plate in a game for the fourth time in a single season, doing so in a 13–9 loss to the Boston Red Sox on September 27. He also became the first Orioles player with three multi-homer games in a four-game span. In 2023, he notched his first career grand slam and five-RBI game against the Atlanta Braves, and his two-run homer on July 16 against the Miami Marlins marked his 100th career home run. The 2024 season was a true breakout, as he was selected to the All-Star Game, claimed the Silver Slugger Award, hit 44 home runs with 102 RBI, and surpassed Ken Singleton’s 1979 franchise record for most homers by a switch-hitter in a single season.
Toronto Blue Jays Era (2025–Present)
On January 20, 2025, Santander signed a five-year, $92.5 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, joining the team as an everyday outfielder. He slashed .179/.273/.304 with six home runs and 18 RBI over 50 games before landing on the injured list with left shoulder inflammation on May 30. After a transfer to the 60-day injured list in July, he was activated on September 23 and made the Blue Jays’ MLB postseason roster, though he was replaced by Joey Loperfido during the American League Championship Series due to back tightness. On February 10, 2026, the Blue Jays announced that he would miss five-to-six months following left labral surgery.
Driving Style and Strengths
Santander is a switch-hitter whose offensive profile is built around power to all fields, and he has consistently posted among the highest fly ball percentages in the American League, including a Major League-leading 54.8 percent in 2024. His ability to drive the ball from both sides of the plate allows lineups to keep the batting order balanced, while his steady corner outfield defense and outfield versatility make him a reliable everyday presence.
Notable Events and Milestones
Signature moments include his 100th career home run in 2023, his Ken Caminiti-tying switch-hit homer record in 2022, and his franchise-record 36th homer by an Orioles switch-hitter in 2024. He also represented Venezuela at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, marking his first appearance on the international stage.
Anthony Santander Career Wins
Anthony Roger Santander has built his professional resume on consistent run production rather than championship rings, with his biggest individual honors coming in the form of the 2024 All-Star selection and Silver Slugger Award. Across his MLB tenure with the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays, he has been a steady middle-of-the-order bat, regularly clearing the 20-homer mark and surpassing 100 RBI in his peak season.
MLB Highlights
His most decorated MLB campaign came in 2024, when he batted .235/.308/.506 with 44 home runs and 102 RBI for the Baltimore Orioles, set a new franchise record for home runs by a switch-hitter, and earned both his first All-Star nod and his first Silver Slugger Award. Earlier, his 2016 performance with Lynchburg produced 20 home runs and 95 RBI, while his 2020 shortened season ended with the Louis M. Hatter Most Valuable Oriole Award.
Other Wins and Performances
On the international stage, Santander represented Venezuela at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, adding a national team appearance to his professional portfolio.
Anthony Santander Family
Family Background and Baseball Lineage
Santander’s immediate family details are not widely documented in verified sources. What is known is that he was raised in Agua Blanca on the Venezuelan mainland, where he continues to spend his winters and maintains close ties to his hometown community.
Personal Life
Publicly available verified information about Anthony Roger Santander’s personal life, including marital status and children, is limited. He is known to be a native of Venezuela who maintains strong ties to his home country while playing professionally in North America.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Anthony Roger Santander’s first year with the Toronto Blue Jays after signing a five-year, $92.5 million contract in January. His production was slowed by a left shoulder inflammation issue that sent him to the injured list in late May and ultimately to the 60-day injured list in July, limiting him to 50 games and a .179/.273/.304 slash line with six home runs and 18 RBI. He returned in late September and was included on Toronto’s postseason roster, though a back issue forced the Blue Jays to replace him with Joey Loperfido during the American League Championship Series. Looking ahead, the Blue Jays announced in February 2026 that he would undergo left labral surgery and miss five-to-six months, putting his 2026 availability in question.
