The Toronto Blue Jays have released a statement following the controversial anti-Muslim social media posts made by All-Star infielder Anthony Santander, who hasn't seen much action since 2025.
Blue Jays CEO Mark Shapiro said that their organization met with leaders of Muslim communities in Toronto on Thursday in light of the posts shared by Santander.
“We met with leaders in Toronto's Muslim communities today, who shared the harm caused by Anthony Santander's Islamophobic social media posts,” Shapiro said in a message released by the Blue Jays via a post on X, formerly Twitter.
“The opportunity to listen and learn was important and reaffirms our beliefs and values as an organization. We condemn Islamophobia and all forms of hate.”
Santander found himself facing an immense backlash over a post he made amid the midterm election win of Abdul El-Sayed as a Michigan senator. One of the posts Santander shared had a message that read “America voted for Sharia last night,” while the other had a text that said, “Islam is not peaceful.”
“The Blue Jays are deeply sorry to the Muslim community and our fans for the pain and harm these Islamophobic posts have caused,” added Shapiro.
Article Continues Below“We will work with leaders in Muslim communities to fight against all forms of hate. The Blue Jays will continue to ensure our organization reflects the inclusive community we are proud to call home.”
Santander missed the entire 2026 MLB season after a left labral surgery in February. The Blue Jays signed him to a five-year, $92.5 million contract in January of 2025.