The Boston Red Sox suspended Jarren Duran for two games without pay on Monday after he shouted a homophobic slur at a heckling fan during a loss to the Houston Astros. The incident happened in the sixth inning when Duran, who had struck out twice, was at the plate. A fan at Fenway Park shouted, “Tennis racket! Tennis racket! You need a tennis racket!” prompting Duran to respond with “Shut up,” followed by a curse word and the slur. The exchange was caught on a live microphone.
Duran issued an apology through the team on Sunday night, admitting he used a “truly horrific word” and felt “awful.” He addressed the media on Monday, standing in the clubhouse, and apologized to fans who had expressed their disappointment. “I’m sorry for my actions, and I’m going to work on being better,” the 27-year-old outfielder said.
Teammate Rob Refsnyder, who hit a walk-off single in Boston’s 5-4, 10-inning win over Texas on Monday night, expressed support for Duran. “He’ll learn from this. We’re all human. We all make mistakes, but he’ll learn from this,” Refsnyder said.
President and Chief Executive Officer Sam Kennedy stated the club had been in touch with Major League Baseball after the game. “It’s a really difficult day, disappointing. I’m proud of the way the organization addressed the situation, and I’m proud of Jarren for acknowledging his horrific mistake,” Kennedy said.
Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow, standing beside Kennedy, emphasized that the team still had work to do. “I think it is striking evidence that while we have made strides and done great work, we haven’t done nearly enough. This incident is an important reminder that there’s a ton of progress that still needs to be made,” Breslow said.
Duran admitted the fan had been heckling him the entire game, leading to his regrettable comment. He said he immediately apologized to home plate umpire Jordan Baker and Houston catcher Yainer Diaz for his actions, realizing that the mic was likely cut due to his inappropriate word.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora mentioned he had spoken to Duran during the day. “He made a big mistake, he’s living with it. As a manager, I’ve got to do my job. As a person, there’s more from my end. It’s about what I can do to support him and help him be better,” Cora said.
Duran, who had played in all of the team’s games this season, is batting .291 with 14 homers and 58 RBIs. He had no intent behind the word, and it was said in the “heat of the moment.”
Kennedy emphasized the importance of what happens going forward, highlighting the team’s long-standing efforts to ensure Fenway Park is a welcoming place for everyone. Duran’s salary during the suspension will be donated to PFLAG (Federation of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays). Duran earns $760,000 and will lose $8,172.
The exchange occurred after Duran was honored during a pregame ceremony as the team’s recipient of the Heart and Hustle Award, which recognizes one player per team who “demonstrates a passion for the game and best embodies its values, spirit, and traditions.”
Kennedy underscored the need for accountability and education. “The suspension is just discipline; we need to hold people accountable. More importantly, we need more education, more understanding, more dialogue around the negative impact of hate speech,” he said.
Because the team suspended him, the Red Sox were allowed to fill his roster spot.
