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Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran issued an apology through the team on Sunday night after hurling a homophobic slur at a fan in the sixth inning of his team’s 10-2 loss at Fenway Park.
With Boston trailing 10-0 against the Houston Astros, the entire exchange was captured by a field microphone that was heard on the NESN broadcast of the game. The fan scolded Duran and the All-Star outfielder could be heard yelling the vulgar two-word slur in response.
Duran could face disciplinary action from either the team or Major League Baseball. In 2017, then-Oakland Athletics outfielder Matt Joyce was suspended by MLB for two games after he hurled a similar slur at a fan. That same year, the Toronto Blue Jays suspended outfielder Kevin Pillar for two games without pay after he hurled a homophobic slur at an opposing pitcher. MLB also suspended New York Yankees infielder Josh Donaldson for one game in 2022 after he called White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson “Jackie.”
“During (today’s) game, I used a truly horrible word when responding to a fan,” Duran said in a statement the club released to Boston media. “I feel terrible thinking about how many people I have offended and disappointed. I apologize to the entire Red Sox organization, but more importantly to the entire LGBTQ community. Our young fans should 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 grow as a person.”
Duran, 27, was named the All-Star Game’s Most Valuable Player last month when he hit a two-run home run to help the American League win. He has a .291 batting average, .853 OPS and 14 home runs, and was fifth among AL outfielders with 5.5 Wins Above Replacement entering Sunday.
