Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran was caught on a hot microphone directing a homophobic slur at a heckling fan as Boston lost its third straight game to the visiting Houston Astros on Sunday.
“Shut up, you fucking moron,” Duran was heard saying on the NESN broadcast.
The NESN booth either didn’t hear the expletive or simply ignored it. Announcer Dave O’Brien simply told the audience that “Duran has a .296 average with runners in scoring position on the year.”
Duran, who will be an All-Star for the first time in 2024, has since apologized.
“During tonight’s game, I used a truly horrible word when responding to a fan,” Duran said in a statement. “I feel terrible knowing how many people I offended and disappointed. I apologize to the entire Red Sox organization, but more importantly, to the entire LGBTQ community. Our young fans are supposed to look up to me as a role model, but tonight I failed to live up to that responsibility.
Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran was caught on a hot microphone directing a homophobic slur
Duran is one of Boston’s best hitters this year with a .291 average and 14 home runs.
‘I will take this opportunity to educate myself and my colleagues and to grow as a person.’
Although the audio isn’t entirely clear, the heckler sounded like he was telling Duran he needed a tennis racket to hit Astros starter Hunter Brown on Sunday.
The fan may have been right, as Duran ended up striking out three times on the day.
Boston is currently in a tailspin in the Wild Card race after losing its last four games, including a 3-game sweep at the hands of the visiting Astros.
The Red Sox (61-55) will now host the other Texas team, the Rangers, for a three-game series.
Duran, who is one of Boston’s top hitters this year with a .291 average and 14 home runs, was honored before the game with the team’s Heart and Hustle Award.
Major League Baseball has yet to publicly respond to the incident.
