Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran issued an apology through the team Sunday night after using a homophobic slur directed toward a fan in the sixth inning of the team’s 10-2 loss at Fenway Park.
With Boston trailing the Houston Astros 10-0, a field mic picked up the entire exchange, heard on the NESN broadcast of the game. The fan chided Duran and the All-Star outfielder could be heard yelling the profane, two-word epithet in response.
Duran could face discipline from either the team or Major League Baseball. In 2017, then-Oakland Athletics outfielder Matt Joyce was suspended by MLB for two games after directing a similar epithet toward a fan. That same year, the Toronto Blue Jays suspended outfielder Kevin Pillar for two games without pay after directing a homophobic slur toward an opposing pitcher. MLB also suspended New York Yankees infielder Josh Donaldson for one game in 2022 after calling White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson ‘Jackie.’
“During (today’s) game, I used a truly horrific word when responding to a fan,’ Duran said in a statement released to Boston media by the club. ‘I feel awful knowing how many people I offended and disappointed. I apologize to the entire Red Sox organization, but more importantly to the entire LGBTQ community. Our young fans are supposed to be able to look up to me as a role model, but tonight I fell far short of that responsibility. I will use this opportunity to educate myself and my teammates and to grow as a person.”
Duran, 27, earned All-Star Game MVP honors last month with a go-ahead two-run home run in the American League’s victory. He’s batting .291 with an .853 OPS and 14 homers, and entered Sunday ranked fifth among AL position players with 5.5 Wins Above Replacement.
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