Anthony Santander appeared to criticize Michigan’s election of Abdul El-Sayed on Tuesday, sharing multiple social media posts targeting the senator-elect’s Muslim faith.
The 32-year-old Blue Jays outfielder reposted two videos to his Instagram story. One carried the caption “America voted for Sharia Last Night,” while the other was titled “Islam is not peaceful.”
In a statement to The Athletic, a Blue Jays spokesperson condemned Santander’s posts and said they do not represent the organization’s values.
“Baseball is for everyone and the Blue Jays have created an inclusive experience where all fans feel welcome at our ballpark,” the statement said. “Individual comments do not represent our organization’s values and beliefs.”
The posts were removed but had already been captured and circulated online, prompting widespread criticism from Toronto fans directed at the Venezuelan outfielder.
Santander’s remarks came after El-Sayed defeated Republican challenger Mike Rogers in a closely contested election on Tuesday.
He will become the first Muslim U.S. Senator once he takes office in January.
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Toronto has made roster decisions following controversial posts from players before, with reliever Anthony Bass being released two weeks after sharing a post supporting anti-LGBTQ boycotts back in 2023.
The Blue Jays, however, insisted that his release was a “baseball decision.”
Santander, who has been injured since the 2025 postseason, is in the middle of a five-year, $92.5 million contract with Toronto, with three years left on his deal.
His Blue Jays tenure has been nothing short of a disaster, however, playing in just 54 games and posting an abysmal slash line of .175/.271/.294 with six home runs and 18 RBIs.