Red Sox suspend Duran 2 games for using homophobic slur toward fan
The Boston Red Sox gave outfielder Jarren Duran a two-game suspension for directing a homophobic slur toward a fan during Sunday's game, the team announced.
The ban is unpaid and begins immediately, meaning Duran will miss the first two games of Boston's series against the Texas Rangers. He's eligible to return on Wednesday.
The Red Sox issued the suspension after consulting with Major League Baseball, according to a team statement. Additionally, the team announced that Duran's forfeited salary from the two outings he'll miss will be donated to PFLAG (Federation of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays).
The Red Sox television broadcast caught Duran uttering the slur in response to a heckler during his sixth-inning at-bat at Fenway Park on Sunday.
After an initial apology through a team statement Sunday night, Duran publicly expressed remorse during a press conference Monday, saying that he "let the moment get the best of me," according to Alex Speier of the Boston Globe. He added that there was "no intent behind that word" being used, per MassLive's Christopher Smith.
"I just wanted to let them (the fans) know that I'm sorry for my actions and that I'm gonna work to be better for them," Duran said, according to Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald.
Duran added that he apologized to both the home-plate umpire and opposing catcher moments after using the slur.
Duran said the two-game suspension is not the most important fact of this incident. It’s the fact that he hurt people. “It’s on me. It’s my fault. … it’s a dumb mistake on my part and I’m going to learn from it.”
— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) August 12, 2024
Red Sox president Sam Kennedy is hoping that the suspension can help lead to changes in how players are educated about hate speech.
"I think the suspension is just, that's discipline, and you need to hold people accountable when things like this happen, but what I would like to see is more education, more understanding, more open dialogue around the really negative impact of hate speech and homophobic slurs that are just not acceptable at all levels," Kennedy said, per Starr.
"Jarren, he said something he shouldn't have. He made a bad mistake. He's owned it. He's now been suspended," Kennedy continued. "He's paying a price, but I think there's more work to be done in terms of rebuilding trust and encouraging his teammates and everyone in the sports community to be better."
Because Duran was disciplined by the team and not MLB, the Red Sox are allowed to replace him on the active roster while he's suspended.
Boston selected right-hander Chase Shugart and catcher/first baseman Mickey Gasper from Triple-A Worcester as part of a roster shuffle that included Duran's suspension. The team also placed left-hander James Paxton on the 15-day injured list with a right calf strain, reinstated pitcher Brayan Bello, and recalled lefty Bailey Horn in the flurry of moves.
Duran, 27, is in his fourth season with the Red Sox. He was named an All-Star for the first time in his career last month.