Boston Red Sox’ Jarren Duran Suspended for Two Games
Outfielder Shouted Gay Slur at Heckling Fan
In baseball news, the Boston Red Sox will be without Jarren Duran for two games. Duran faces suspension for shouting a gay slur at a fan during Sunday’s 10-2 loss to the Houston Astros.
Duran was outside the batter’s box when he heard a fan shouting that he needed a tennis racket to hit rather than a baseball bat. He screamed: “Shut up, you f—ing f—-t.”
The #RedSox today issued a two-game suspension to Jarren Duran. pic.twitter.com/YlinXxOAWy
— Red Sox (@RedSox) August 12, 2024
“In consultation with Major League Baseball, the Red Sox today issued an unpaid two-game suspension to outfielder Jarren Duran beginning with tonight’s game against the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park” the club statement said.
Duran faces suspension: Red Sox Taking Action
Duran faces suspension that will be without pay. The money Duran would have earned from those two games will be donated to PFLAG (Federation of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), the United States’ largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people and those who love them.
For what it is worth, and let’s be honest, Duran had no choice but to fess up and apologize after his outburst was picked up by a live mic, he apologized after the game. Duran faces suspension as a consequence of his actions.
“During tonight’s game, I used a truly horrific word when responding to a fan” Duran said in a statement released by the Red Sox on Sunday.
“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 was an All-Star this season. He is hitting .291 with 14 home runs and 48 RBI. He leads the league in doubles (36) and triples (13).
History of Anti-Gay Slurs in MLB
This is not the first time a player has been suspended by MLB for anti-gay slurs. Others who have earned well-deserved bans were Matt Joyce of the Oakland A’s (two games, 2017), Kevin Millar (Toronto Blue Jays, 2017), and previously Yunel Escobar of the Blue Jays in 2012.
The incident comes following the week when former gay baseball player Billy Bean passed away after battling leukemia. Bean was the “Ambassador for Inclusion” part of MLB’s effort to combat sexism, homophobia, and prejudice in the sport. After then-Commissioner Bud Selig retired, Bean continued in his post under MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred as a senior advisor focused on player education, LGBTQ inclusion and social justice initiatives.
These incidents while infrequent are unacceptable and need to stop. Forever. The more you think athletes have evolved, some continue to find the worst ways to set them back decades.
Thought this was a salient comment from Alex Cora on the Duran issue:
“It’s hard to say we have to move forward. We’re not moving forward. We have to work. There’s a lot of work we have to do. Not only Jaren as a person but us as a group and we will do that."
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) August 12, 2024
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