The Toronto Blue Jays acted quickly and swiftly in disciplining infielder Yunel Escobar for wearing eye black that had a gay slur written on it.
The club announced Tuesday afternoon that the shortstop would be suspended three games, effective immediately. The Jays are in New York to take on the Yankees on Tuesday night where the suspension will begin.
Yunel Escobar will be suspended for three games beginning tonight.The suspension is the result of his decision to display an …..
— Blue Jays-Official(@BlueJays) September 18, 2012
(cont) unacceptable message while participating in a Major League Game.
— Blue Jays-Official(@BlueJays) September 18, 2012
The Blue Jays also announced that Escobar's pay will be donated by the club to GLAAD and You Can Play project.
"It was nothing intentional directed at anyone in particular," Escobar said through a translator at a news conference. "I don't have anything against homosexuals. I have friends that are gay.
"In reality, I would like to ask for [forgiveness] for all of those offended by this."
Blue Jays manager John Farrell explained that since Escobar sometimes puts words and phrases on his eye black stickers, no one suspected that there would be a slur on the stickers.
Escobar also said that the use of the word was "misinterpreted."
"I didn't mean for this to be misinterperted by the gay community," he said. "It's something that's said around Latinos, and it's not something that's meant to be offensive."
"This is completely out of character as I know him as a player and a person," Toronto manager John Farrell said in the news conference. "We tried to make this and will continue to make this in a positive way to continue to educate as [general manager Alex Anthopoulos] has outlined."
Thumbnail via MLB.com
