The Toronto Blue Jays have responded to Islamophobic posts made on-line by outfielder Anthony Santander. In them, he used bigoted language to criticize U.S. Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed.
Within the wake of that, the Blue Jays launched the next assertion:
“We met with leaders of Toronto’s Muslim communities at this time, who shared the hurt brought on by Anthony Santander’s Islamophobic social media posts,” the assertion learn. “The chance to hear and study was necessary and reaffirms our beliefs and values as a company. We condemn Islamophobia and all types of hate.
“The Blue Jays are deeply sorry to the Muslim group and our followers for the ache and hurt these Islamophobic posts have prompted. We are going to work with leaders in Muslim communities to battle in opposition to all types of hate. The Blue Jays will proceed to make sure our group displays the inclusive group we’re proud to name house.”
Previous to that, Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins expressed his personal considerations concerning the posts.
“There actually aren’t phrases to specific my stage of disappointment with him making these feedback. I’ve expressed that to him,” Atkins mentioned. “… something exacerbating some stage of anti-Islamic hate is simply extraordinarily regarding, extraordinarily disappointing.”
Thus far, the Blue Jays haven’t publicly introduced a punishment for Santander. It’s unclear if one will probably be coming, both in public or in non-public.
Toronto Blue Jays Star Anthony Santander Made Islamophobic Posts
Within the wake of the midterm elections, Venezuelan-born outfielder Anthony Santander took to Instagram. There, he reposted Islamophobic movies.
Among the many claims made in these movies have been that Muslims elected would look to impose Sharia Legislation in the US. The movies additionally claimed that Islam is “not peaceable” and that the faith is “pushed by warfare.”
They have been posted to his Instagram tales within the wake of the elections on Wednesday, November 4th. One of many movies included Abdul El-Sayed, who received a hotly contested race in Michigan. Within the course of, he additionally turned the primary Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate.
Santander deleted the movies. As of the time of writing, Santander has not publicly commented on his posts.
Santander’s Time With the Blue Jays
Forward of the 2025 season, the Blue Jays signed Anthony Santander, considered one of their greater current free agent signings. It was a five-year, $92.5 million contract.
An All-Star in 2024, Santander has been a catastrophe on the sphere with the Blue Jays. He was solely in a position to play in 54 video games in 2025, resulting from a shoulder damage. He ended up needing left labral surgical procedure in February of 2026 and wasn’t in a position to play in any respect in the course of the 2026 season, save for a short rehab outing within the minors.
Throughout his time with the Blue Jays, Santander is hitting .175 with a .271 OBP, a .294 slugging proportion, and a .565 OPS. He has 6 house runs and 18 RBIs.
Presumably, Santander will probably be wholesome by the point the 2027 season begins. The hope is that he may also help flip the tide for Toronto after the Blue Jays had a massively disappointing season in 2026, failing to make the playoffs.
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