Jays' Atkins told Santander to apologize for Islamophobic posts

Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins denounced the Islamophobic posts outfielder Anthony Santander shared last week.

"There aren't words to express my level of disappointment with him making those comments," Atkins told reporters Tuesday at the GM meetings, according to Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. "I've expressed that to him. I think anything (exacerbating) some level of hate, anti-Islamic, is just extremely concerning."

Shortly after the U.S. midterm elections, Santander posted several Instagram stories that, among other things, claimed Sharia law was coming to the United States. In another video he shared, a Christian preacher said there was "no such thing as kind Muslims."

Santander has not posted anything on social media or made any other public statements since removing the stories.

Atkins confirmed he had spoken with Santander about the posts in the last week and said he told the outfielder "that I thought he needed to and that he should" address those posts publicly, according to Sportsnet's Shi Davidi. When asked how Santander responded, Atkins reiterated: "I told him I thought he needed to and that he should."

"I also talked to Anthony about his lack of awareness, realizing that he has a very large microphone, what that meant," Atkins added. "We're working exceptionally hard internally to ensure, and we have been, that it's a safe environment, that baseball is for everyone. It's very important to us. It's a part of our organizational values, and his behavior did not align with that."

Toronto signed Santander to a five-year, $92.5-million contract with heavy deferrals before the 2025 season. The 32-year-old has appeared in just 54 games with the team and missed all of last season due to a shoulder injury.