Blue Jays Distance Themselves from Santander's Social Media Posts
The organization stated that right fielder Anthony Santander's recent videos do not reflect its core values after he removed them from his account.
By Martin Reynolds ·
The Toronto Blue Jays announced on Thursday that a series of anti Muslim videos posted by right fielder Anthony Santander do not align with the team's values. The club released the statement after Santander removed the clips from his personal social media account. The posts appeared following the U.S. midterm elections.
One video featured a Christian preacher claiming there is no such thing as kind Muslims. Another suggested that Sharia law would be imposed in the United States after Abdul El-Sayed was elected to the Senate in Michigan. El-Sayed, the son of Egyptian immigrants, will serve as the first Muslim American U.S. senator.
During his campaign, El-Sayed faced Islamophobic rhetoric from critics on the right. He frequently mocked those opponents while emphasizing his faith and supporting the Palestinian cause. The Blue Jays said baseball is for everyone and that the team has created an inclusive experience where all fans feel welcome at the ballpark.
The team noted that individual comments do not represent the organization's beliefs. Santander, a 32 year old native of Venezuela, missed his entire 2026 season after undergoing shoulder surgery. That injury followed his first year with Toronto.
The right fielder spent his first eight major league seasons with Baltimore. He signed a five year contract worth $92.5 million with Toronto to join the lineup for the current campaign.
