“I’m a terrible leader,” Jarren Duran reflects on ‘horrific mistake’ as MLB SUSPENDS outfielder for using homophobic slur

MLB suspends Jarren Duran for two games without pay for using homophobic slurs at a heckling fan.

“I’m a terrible leader,” Jarren Duran reflects on ‘horrific mistake’ as MLB SUSPENDS outfielder for using homophobic slur

Jarren Duran [Image Credit: The Boston Globe]

Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran apologizes for using a homophobic slur in the “heat of the moment” towards a heckling fan on Sunday. During their game against Houston Astros a fan continued yelling, “Tennis racket, tennis racket, you need a tennis racket” at Duran on the plate.

Shortly afterward, Duran shouted “Shut up, you f***ing f****t” which was caught on NESN hot mic. His comment riled up the MLB community and later he issued an apology via the organization over the incident. 

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The Red Sox also apologized for letting this happen and assured Duran would undergo further training to ensure such an incident never happens again. The Major League Baseball further suspended the player for two games without pay; the same punishment given in 2017 during Matt Joyce’s anti-gay slur incident. 

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Approximately, $8,000 will be deducted from his pay, as per reports. This will be donated to the PFLAG organization which is supporting LGBTQ education and advocating for them.

I just let the moment get the best of me. Just said something I shouldn’t be saying. There was no intent behind the word that was used. It was just the heat of the moment. It just happened.
Jarren Duran as per Peter Abraham of Boston Globe. 

Team president Sam Kennedy said he’ll see to it such incidents never happen, and hold the person responsible for directing hurtful words at anyone. He called this incident “a disappointing, unacceptable event,” and a “horrific mistake.” 

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Alex Cora believes there’s still hope for molding Jarren Duran as a captain of Red Sox

Despite the harsh treatment, Jarren Duran is getting from the MLB world recently, manager Alex Cora is still hopeful to re-shape Duran into a capable team captain. He said there’s a lot left to teach him and guide him so such an incident does not repeat as he was named for the Red Sox’s Heart & Hustle Award.

Alex Cora and Jarren Duran [Image Credit: NY Times/Scripps News]
Alex Cora and Jarren Duran [Image Credit: NY Times/Scripps News]

Baseball chief officer Craig Breslow penned how there’s “still a ton of progress needs to be made” and this incident proved to be an important reminder. Cora talked about Duran making a mistake,

He made a big mistake and he’s living with it.
Alex Cora as per Peter Abraham of Boston Globe.

Prior to this incident, Cora firmly believed Duran would make a good team captain, but his recent major mistake has now given him a backstep to that dream. Although Cora believes he’ll learn and overcome this, Duran feels he’s not a good fit to be a role model.

I’m a terrible leader. I know I shouldn’t have said that word. And I know I’m going to get looked down for saying it and it’s my own fault.
Jarren Duran as per Peter Abraham of Boston Globe.

He admitted that he “fell short of that responsibility” and will take this chance to reflect on himself. He said since MLB “is very inclusive” his words and actions shouldn’t have represented otherwise. “It was just a bad moment on my part. I’m owing up to it and apologizing for it,” he said.

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