WASHINGTON — A feel-good, three-day All-Star celebration at Nationals Park concluded in shocking fashion late Tuesday when Brewers relief pitcher Josh Hader owned up to a series of hate-filled tweets from 2011 and 2012.
The tweets, which contained racist, sexist and homophobic comments, hit social media Tuesday as Hader pitched in the All-Star Game and gave up a tie-breaking, eighth-inning home run to Seattle’s Jean Segura. While Hader wound up not losing the game, an 8-6, 10-inning victory by the American League, he absolutely lost the night.
“There’s no excuse for what was said,” a somber-looking Hader said following the game, in the NL clubhouse. “I’m deeply sorry for what I said and what’s been going on. It doesn’t reflect any of my beliefs now.”
Even though Major League Baseball has disciplined players in recent years for offensive comments and gestures, it will be difficult to penalize Hader, 24, for these since they occurred before the Orioles selected him in the 2012 amateur draft. However, MLB powers could request that Hader undergo sensitivity training, and Hader would certainly embrace any opportunity to further distance himself from what he once wrote.
“I’m ready for any consequences for what happened seven years ago,” he said.
In his brief question-and-answer session with reporters, Hader repeatedly mentioned the time frame of his tweets. “I was in high school,” he said. “We’re still learning who we are. I was in high school. You live and you learn. This mistake won’t happen again.”
In the NL clubhouse, Hader’s Brewers teammate Lorenzo Cain, who is black, huddled for about 30 seconds with Hader before addressing the media.
“I was trying to understand the situation,” Cain said. “He’s young. We all say crazy things when we are young.”
Cain continued: “I know Hader. He’s a great guy. He’s a great teammate.”
Asked to provide context for his tweets, Hader said, “I’m sure it was some lyrics, some rap lyrics being tweeted. I really don’t know exactly what’s out there.”
He said he would speak to the rest of his teammates when they reconvene Friday in Milwaukee. It appears Cain, the respected veteran, will have Hader’s back.
“We are going to move on from this,” Cain said. “You have to give people a second chance.”
Outfielder Christian Yelich, another Brewer on the All-Star team, declined comment, saying he didn’t know enough about the matter.