Blue Jays Call Out Anthony Santander Over El-Sayed Muslim Attack

Toronto Blue Jays officials distanced the organization from anti-Muslim videos shared by outfielder Anthony Santander after the 2026 U.S. midterm elections.

Santander reposted two reels to his verified Instagram story on Wednesday, November 4.

One targeted Michigan Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed and carried the claim, “America voted for Sharia law last night.” Another declared, “Islam is not peaceful.”

The videos were no longer visible by Thursday, but screenshots continued circulating. El-Sayed, a Democrat and former Detroit health director, won Michigan’s Senate race and is set to become the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate.

The Blue Jays responded without naming Santander.

“Baseball is for everyone, and the Blue Jays have created an inclusive experience where all fans feel welcome at our ballpark,” the club said. The team added that comments by individuals do not reflect its values.

Santander had not publicly addressed the controversy as of Friday morning. The Blue Jays also had not announced any discipline. The response left open whether the organization would take further action beyond separating itself from the posts.

Major League Baseball’s workplace code bars demeaning conduct based on protected characteristics, including religion. The policy says those standards apply to social media and other electronic communication, not only conduct inside a clubhouse or ballpark.

The controversy comes as Santander tries to bounce back from a difficult start to his Toronto contract.

He signed a five-year, $92.5 million deal before the 2025 season but has appeared in only 54 games for the club. Shoulder surgery kept him out for all of 2026.

Toronto faced a similar social media dispute in 2023 after reliever Anthony Bass shared a video supporting anti-LGBTQ boycotts. The team released Bass roughly two weeks later, though the Blue Jays described that move as a baseball decision.

MLB’s policy also directs personnel to report behavior that conflicts with the league’s inclusion principles and says employees are accountable regardless of rank.

Santander, 32, remains under contract for three more seasons.

The club’s immediate statement defended an inclusive fan experience, but it did not say whether his deleted posts will affect his place on the roster when he is healthy enough to return.