Red Sox’ Jarren Duran apologizes for his shouting homophobic slur at a fan at Fenway

Duran was found by a hot microphone during his batting session on the sixth pitch of Red Sox’ loss to the Astros..

Aug 12, 2024 03:31 AM

Jarren Duran apologized late Sunday night after a hot mike caught him directing a homophobic slur toward a fan at Fenway Park during Sunday’s 10-2 loss to the Astros .

“During tonight’s game, I used a truly horrific word when responding to a fan,” Duran declared in a statement made by the Red Sox. “I regret the number of individuals I offended or how disappointed. I am sorry to the entire Red Sox organization, but most importantly, to the entire LGBTQ community. The young fans of the Red Sox are expected to to admire my role as an example but I came up way short of my role. I’m going to use this experience to learn from my teammates as well as to develop as a person.”

In the sixth, in the sixth inning, with Red Sox trailing the Astros 10-0, and Duran playing with runners on the corners Duran, the Red Sox outfielder — at 0-2, with two strikeouts against Astros pitcher Hunter Brown — was rudely booed by a fan who shouted, “Tennis racket! Tennis racket! You’ll require an tennis racket!”

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Duran got up then turned to face the fan and said “Shut up you [expletive expletive].”

“The Red Sox addressed this incident with Jarren immediately following today’s game,” the team said in its statement. “We are in agreement with Jarren’s apology to our fans, and especially members of the LGBTQ community. We are determined to be an organization that is welcoming to every fan into Fenway Park, and we will continue to train our players, players and their coaches about the importance of inclusiveness.”

Duran was very chippy throughout the game, and during one time in the middle of innings, he was slamming an electric fan into the dugout.

The Sox or MLB could hold discussions on Monday about possible disciplinary actions.

This isn’t an isolated incident. Duran has been involved with his fans. In the 2022 season, when the club was playing in Kansas City, Duran was arguing with the crowdin the outfield following a mistake in kicking an in the center.

Julian McWilliams can be reached at djgain2005@gmail.com . Follow him @byJulianMack .