The Toronto Blue Jays released a statement Thursday distancing the club from a pair of anti-Islam Instagram posts from outfielder Anthony Santander.
The two clubs shared the story of Santander’s campaign on Instagram, both in the United States midterm elections that saw Democrats take control of the US House of Representatives, the Senate and many US state governments.
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First I see Santander from one point of view following the number of Muslims appointed to government positions, most notably Senator-designate Abdul El-sayed of Michigan, and arguing that “All good Muslims believe in and want Sharia law instead of American law.” According to the video, a Christian minister proclaims, among other things, that “there is no such thing as a race of Muslims.”
The posts have been removed from Santander’s IG story.
When asked for comment by Paul Ross of CTV News Toronto, the Blue Jays provided this statement:
“Baseball is for everyone, and the Blue Jays want to create an inclusive experience where all our fans feel welcome at the ballpark. Individual comments do not represent our values and beliefs.”
Born and raised in Venezuela, Santander came to the US as a teenager and signed with Cleveland. He spent his entire MLB career with the Baltimore Orioles before moving to Canada to sign a five-year, $92.5 million contract with the Blue Jays after the 2024 season.
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According to Canadian census data from 2021, Toronto has a 9.6% Muslim population, and Muslims make up 4.9% of the Canadian population overall.
It has been more than a year since Santander played his most recent game for the Blue Jays. His first season in 2025 saw him play just 54 games due to a lingering shoulder injury and slash just .175/.271/.294. His injury continued to worsen throughout the 2025 season and resulted in surgery on his left lip.
Santander began a rehab assignment in September of this year, but was injured playing only five games before ending his season without returning to the MLB. He has three seasons left on his contract, with a salary ranging from $15.5 million to $19.2 million with an extension, plus a $15 million option for 2030.