Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins voiced strong criticism on Tuesday regarding anti-Muslim posts shared on social media by player Anthony Santander, which have since been removed.
Atkins Addresses Santander’s Social Media Activity
Speaking at the annual general managers’ meetings on Tuesday, Atkins addressed the situation surrounding Santander’s online activity. Speaking via Sportsnet, Atkins stated that there were no words to convey his level of disappointment, adding that “anything exacerbating some level of hate, anti-Islamic, is just extremely concerning and extremely disappointing.”
Atkins explained that he spoke directly with Santander regarding the impact of his platform. “I also talked to Anthony about his lack of awareness, realizing that he has a very large microphone, what that meant,” Atkins said. He emphasized that the team works hard to maintain an inclusive environment and that Santander’s behavior did not align with organizational values. While it remains unconfirmed if Santander will address the public, Atkins noted that he advised the player that he should do so, adding that Santander felt badly about the situation.
Details of the Controversy and Player Background
The posts, shared following last week’s U.S. midterm elections, included a video featuring a Christian pastor asserting that “there is no such thing as kind Muslims.” Another clip suggested that Sharia law would be implemented in the United States following the election of Abdul El-Sayed to the Senate. Santander subsequently deleted the videos from his accounts.
In response to the incident, the Blue Jays released an official statement reaffirming their commitment to inclusivity, noting that individual comments do not reflect the organization’s beliefs. Santander, a Venezuelan native who originally entered professional baseball in 2011 at age 16, signed a deal with Toronto prior to the 2025 season and has been restricted to 54 games over the past two seasons due to injuries.
