Mets pitcher Marcus Stroman described Monday how “prevalent” he believes racism remains in sports and society, saying that he often is called racial slurs and receives death threats.
Stroman’s series of tweets were in response to a video that initially was believed to have caught a Colorado Rockies fan at Coors Field screaming racial slurs at Marlins outfielder Lewis Brinson during the ninth inning of Sunday’s game.
After reviewing video, identifying and speaking with the fan in question and speaking with other people in the area, the Rockies concluded the fan was yelling “Dinger” in an attempt to get the attention of the team’s mascot. A Marlins spokesman also told the AP that none of Miami’s players, including Brinson, who is Black, heard what allegedly was shouted.
The Rockies initially had said in a statement Sunday night that they were “disgusted at the racial slur directed at [Brinson]” and would investigate the matter.
“Stop denying the fact that racism is prevalent in society today. It’s beyond obvious at this point,” Stroman tweeted before the team’ findings were reported. “Those denying it are the main contributors. These are the same individuals sending death threats and calling us derogatory terms online. As always…we RISE through it all!”
Stroman, a Medford, N.Y. native, added that “everyone acts all shocked when it gets caught on video…but don’t realize this is normal behavior from racist individuals in America.
“We’re supposed to brush it off and be able to handle it because we’re viewed as athletes and not human beings. Praying the world changes soon!” Stroman wrote. “How would y’all be mentally, physically, and emotionally if you were receiving death threats and being called a n—-r way more often than you could imagine?”
The 30-year-old pitcher also posted screenshots of direct messages sent to him via social media, including one that called him a homophobic slur and another that called him “a “f—ing cockroach piece of s–t monkey” and wished for him to die from cancer.
“There’s no difference between shouting it in public or shouting it in our messages,” Stroman wrote. “I receive messages like this daily.”
When one fan responded that Stroman should “go win some games…and control what you can,” the pitcher replied, “I’m talking about being called a n—-r and receiving death threats…and you respond with ‘go win some games.’ Y’all see the problem?”
Mets shortstop Javier Baez, who left Sunday’s game with hip tightness, received treatment on the off-day and will be reevaluated before Tuesday’s game against the Nationals at Citi Field.