Newcomb apologizes to Braves for inflammatory tweets he sent as a teen

ATLANTA — Braves lefthander Sean Newcomb apologized to his teammates on Monday for racist, homophobic and sexist tweets he sent as a teenager.

Newcomb’s apology was delivered in a meeting attended by players, coaches, manager Brian Snitker and Atlanta staff.

Ender Inciarte and Dansby Swanson said players accepted the apology. Each said tweets made public on Sunday did not represent Newcomb’s actions on the team.

“I think Newcomb is one of the best teammates I’ve ever had,” Inciarte said. “He’s such a good person and a great example and role model for this organization, I’m more than proud to talk about the kind of person he is.”

Swanson, the shortstop who played with Newcomb in the Braves’ minor league system before their time together in Atlanta, said he doesn’t expect the incident to cause problems in the clubhouse.

“I think at the end of the day everyone realizes that does not directly reflect who he is,” Swanson said of New- comb’s tweets.

Newcomb, 25, said he spoke Monday with Billy Bean, MLB’s vice-president for social responsibility and inclusion, and intends to meet with Bean when the Braves are in New York this week.

Bean is also expected to schedule a meeting with Washington Nationals shortstop Trea Turner after Turner’s homophobic and racially insensitive tweets from 2011 and 2012 surfaced Sunday night. The 25-year-old Turner apologized in a statement released by the Nationals.