Votto: Privilege 'made me complicit' in George Floyd's death

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto has added his voice to the growing chorus of baseball players speaking out against racism following the death of George Floyd in police custody.

In an op-ed for the Cincinnati Enquirer published Sunday, Votto said he recently realized his privilege as a white person blinded him from understanding what black people - including some of his current and former teammates - have grown accustomed to dealing with.

"That privilege kept me from understanding the 'why' behind Colin Kaepernick's decision to kneel during the national anthem," Votto wrote. "That privilege allowed me to ignore my black teammates' grievances about their experiences with law enforcement, being profiled, and discriminated against. And that privilege has made me complicit in the death of George Floyd, as well as the many other injustices that blacks experience in the U.S. and my native Canada."

"Only now am I just beginning to hear," he added. "I am awakening to their pain, and my ignorance. No longer will I be silent. #BlackLivesMatter."

Votto, who grew up in Toronto, said he initially dismissed a black teammate's request to watch the video of Floyd's death. When he finally did view it, he wept and apologized to his teammate.

The 36-year-old has spent his entire career with the Reds.