Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran has been suspended for two games after using a homophobic slur toward a fan during Sunday’s loss to the Houston Astros.
Duran, who was selected to the MLB All-Star team for the first time last month, was caught on a hot mic yelling, “Shut your mouth, f***ing f*****” at a booing crowd at Fenway Park.
The day after the incident, the Red Sox announced that the 27-year-old player had been given a two-game suspension without pay. His salary from the games in question will be donated to the LGBTQ+ group Federation of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.
Before Duran was suspended, he apologized through his team and admitted he had failed as a role model for young supporters.
He said in a statement on Sunday: ‘During tonight’s game I used a truly awful word when responding to a fan. I feel terrible knowing how many people I have offended and disappointed.
Red Sox’s Jarren Duran has apologized after using a homophobic slur toward a fan
The outfielder admits he failed as a role model for younger fans during the game
“I apologize to the entire Red Sox organization, but more importantly to the entire LGBTQ community. Our young fans should look up to me as a role model, but tonight I fell far short of that responsibility.
‘I will use this opportunity to develop myself and my teammates and to grow as a person.’
While the audio wasn’t entirely clear, it appeared the shouter wanted to taunt Duran by telling him he needed a tennis racket to hit Astros starter Hunter Brown.
The fan may have been right, as the Red Sox star player missed three times that day.
The NESN booth either didn’t hear Duran’s homophobic slur or simply ignored it. Play-by-play commentator Dave O’Brien simply told the crowd, “Duran is .296 with runners in scoring position for the year.”
Duran, who is one of Boston’s leading hitters this year with a .291 batting average and 14 home runs, was honored before the game with the team’s Heart and Hustle Award.