Former player Billy Bean made an appearance Tuesday at Mets camp in his new role as MLB’s ambassador for inclusion. Bean, who is gay, said his early retirement from the game was tied to never feeling fully accepted by teammates.
Bean, who is touring various camps this spring, wore a Mets uniform and participated in workouts.
“I disagree with his lifestyle,” Daniel Murphy told NJ.com. “I do disagree with the fact he is homosexual. That doesn’t mean I can’t still invest in him and get to know him. I don’t think the fact someone is homosexual should completely shut the door on investing in them in a relational aspect.
“Maybe as a Christian … we haven’t been articulate enough in describing what our actual stance is on homosexuality. We love the people. We disagree with the lifestyle.”
Murphy also said he held no grudge toward Bean as a person and could have a relationship with him.
Bean, 50, addressed Murphy’s reaction in a piece he wrote Wednesday for MLB.com.
“After reading his comments, I appreciate that Daniel spoke his truth. I really do,” Bean wrote. “He was brave to share his feelings, and it made me want to work harder and be a better example that someday might allow him to view things from my perspective, if only for just a moment.
“I respect him, and I want everyone to know that he was respectful of me. We have baseball in common, and for now, that might be the only thing. But it’s a start.
“The silver lining in his comments are that he would be open to investing in a relationship with a teammate, even if he ‘disagrees’ with the lifestyle. It may not be perfect, but I do see him making an effort to reconcile his religious beliefs with his interpretation of the word lifestyle. It took me 32 years to fully accept my sexual orientation, so it would be hypocritical of me to not be patient with others. Inclusion means everyone, plain and simple. Daniel is part of that group.”