The Toronto Blue Jays released a statement Thursday distancing the club from two anti-Islam Instagram posts by outfielder Anthony Santander.
These were two Reels shared on Santander’s Instagram story, both posted following the US midterm elections which saw Democrats take control of the House of Representatives, the Senate and several state governments.
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Santander’s first video consisted of a tally counting the number of Muslims elected to government positions, including Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan, and claiming that “all good Muslims believe and want Sharia law instead of American law.” The second video shows a Christian pastor proclaiming, among other things, that there are “no good Muslims.”
The posts have since been deleted from Santander’s IG story.
When asked by Paul Ross of CTV News Toronto, the Blue Jays provided the following statement:
“Baseball is for everyone and the Blue Jays have created an inclusive experience where all fans feel welcome in our stadium. Individual comments do not represent the values and beliefs of our organization.”
Santander was born and raised in Venezuela and came to the United States after signing with Cleveland as a teenager. He spent his entire MLB career with the Baltimore Orioles before moving to Canada in a five-year, $92.5 million deal signed with the Blue Jays after the 2024 season.
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According to 2021 Canadian census data, Toronto has a Muslim population of 9.6% and Muslims make up 4.9% of the Canadian population as a whole.
It’s been over a year since Santander played his last game with the Blue Jays. His first season in 2025 saw him play just 54 games due to a nagging shoulder injury and a slash line of just .175/.271/.294. His injury worsened during the 2025 playoffs and led to surgery on his left labrum.
Santander began a rehab assignment in September of this year, but he only played five games before his non-returning MLB season ended. He has three guaranteed seasons remaining on his contract, with a salary ranging from $15.5 million to $19.2 million with deferrals, plus a $15 million team option for 2030.
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