Toronto Blue Jays General Manager Ross Atkins has publicly denounced outfielder Anthony Santander for sharing Islamophobic posts on his Instagram Story in the wake of Democrat Abdul El-Sayed's victory in the Michigan Senate race.
"There really aren't words to express my level of disappointment with him making those comments. I've expressed that to him," Atkins told reporters at the GM Meetings in Las Vegas, according to Sportsnet. He added that Santander's posts demonstrated a "lack of awareness."
El-Sayed, who became the first Muslim-American elected to the Senate, defeated Republican challenger Mike Rogers. Santander's Instagram Story featured posts that included captions such as "America voted for Sharia last night!" and "Muslims are not peaceful."
The Blue Jays organization issued a statement asserting that Santander's comments "do not represent our organization's values and beliefs." The team emphasized its commitment to creating an inclusive environment where "all fans feel welcome."
Santander, an All-Star in 2024 with the Baltimore Orioles, signed a five-year, $92.5 million contract with the Blue Jays prior to the 2025 season. His recent seasons have been hampered by injuries, including shoulder surgery and a subsequent back issue that led him to miss the entire 2026 campaign.