The Boston Red Sox on Monday suspended Jarren Duran for two games, a punishment handed down by the club after the outfielder used a homophobic slur during Sunday's series finale against the Houston Astros at Fenway Park.
Duran spoke with media members in the Red Sox clubhouse before Monday's game against the Texas Rangers and apologized for his actions.
"I've had some fans reach out to me and tell me that they're disappointed in me, and I just want to let them know that I'm sorry for my actions and that I'm going to work on being better for them," Duran told reporters.
"There was no intent behind the word that was used," he added. "It was just the heat of the moment and just happened to be said. It's on me for that word coming out. But there was no intent behind that word being used."
The incident happened in the sixth inning Sunday with the Red Sox trailing 10-0 in an eventual 10-2 loss. A heckler took aim at Duran during his at-bat, prompting a homophobic response from the 27-year-old that was picked up by the broadcast.
Duran, who recently earned MLB All-Star Game MVP honors, had emerged as a clubhouse leader this season, through both his work ethic and his perseverance in overcoming mental health struggles. The incident Sunday is something he hopes to learn from moving forward, which starts with holding himself accountable.
"I haven't really interacted with any of my teammates," Duran told reporters Monday. "I've kinda just been trying to keep my space from them. I don't want to bug them with something that I did, and I don't want to get them wrapped up in all this. It's on me. It's my fault. And I just need to do better."
"I don't think that my actions should represent what the team and MLB represent," he added. "It was a bad moment on my part and I'm owning up to it and apologizing for it. But there was no intent to harm anybody or any organization in any way. It was just a dumb mistake on my part."
Duran, a seventh-round draft pick in 2018, made his MLB debut with Boston in 2021. He's currently in the midst of his second full season.
The Red Sox also announced Monday that Duran's salary from his two-game suspension will be donated to PFLAG (Federation of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), the United States' largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating and advocating for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people and those who love them.
