Red Sox take disciplinary action against outfielder Jarren Duran
The Red Sox will be without of their top talents for two games, and by their own choosing, as the team has suspended outfielder Jarren Duran for two games after a hot mic caught Duran using a homophobic slur against a heckler in Sunday’s loss to the Astros.
The decision to suspend Duran was made by Red Sox CEO Sam Kennedy, and with some consultation from Major League Baseball throughout the process.
Speaking in the Boston clubhouse Monday, Duran, who issued an apology in a statement following Sunday’s game, took complete ownership of the situation and put the blame on himself.
“It was just a heckler heckling me the entire game and I just let the moment get the best of me and said something I shouldn’t be saying,” Duran told reporters (per MassLive’s Christopher Smith).
Duran also noted that he’s had multiple Red Sox fans reach out to him to express their disappointment with what he said, and Duran noted that he wanted to let them know he was sorry.
In addition to the suspension itself, Duran’s salary from the two-game ban will be donated to PFLAG (Federation of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), according to the Red Sox. PFLAG is the United States’ largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people and those who love them.
The suspension comes at an absolutely horrendous time for the Red Sox, too, as the team is currently scuffling with four straight losses and find themselves in desperate need of some wins to keep pace in the American League wild card race. Boston enters Monday’s game against the Rangers three games out of the final wild card spot and are no longer the first team on the outside looking in thanks to what’s been a four-game win streak for the Mariners, with Seattle currently a half game ahead of the Red Sox.
The only ‘comfort’ in Duran’s suspension is that because this was a team-issued suspension and not a league-issued suspension, the Red Sox will be able to call up a player in Duran’s place. And it appears that it will be Mickey Gasper who takes Duran’s spot on the Boston roster for the time being, as Gasper was the only position player recalled in what was a seven-transaction day for the Red Sox.
Gasper, who plays catcher and the infield, has posted a .341 with 12 home runs and 54 RBIs in 84 games between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester this season.
