Hater gets slap on the wrist
MLB sends Brewers reliever to sensitivity training
Josh Hader is about to get a crash course in how not to be a jerk.
A day after racist, sexist and homophobic tweets written by the Brewers pitcher resurfaced, Major League Baseball ordered up sensitivity training for the Milwaukee All-Star.
“During last night’s game we became aware of Mr. Hader’s unacceptable social media comments in years past and have since been in communication with the Brewers regarding our shared concerns.”
Hader had just given up a three-run home run in the top of the eighth inning during Tuesday night’s All-Star Game when screengrabs of his social media rantings went viral.
The tweets were composed when the 24-year-old lefty was a teenager.
“I was young, immature and stupid,” Hader fessed up after the Midsummer Classic in D.C. “There is no excuse for that to happen.”
“After the game, Mr. Hader took the necessary step of expressing remorse for his highly offensive and hurtful language,” MLB’s statement added.
“The Office of the Commissioner will require sensitivity training for Mr. Hader and participation in MLB’s diversity and inclusion initiatives.”
The hateful tweets — most of which were posted between 2011 and 2012 — from the first-time All-Star, included: “I hate gay people” and “Need a b---h that can f--k, cook, clean right.”
The Brewers called Hader’s tweets “inexcusable.”
“We have been in contact with Josh and he is fully aware of the severity of the situation related to his social media comments, regardless of the timeline of his posts,” the Brewers said in a statement from general manager David Stearns.
“Those of us that have come to know Josh do not believe that these posts are representative of his beliefs. He has been a good teammate and contributor to the team in every way.”
The Brewers added the organization will “continue to work through this issue with Josh.”
Brewers slugger Jesus Aguilar was quick to step to the plate in Hader’s defense.
“First of all I want to show my support to my friend and teammate, Josh Hader,” Aguilar wrote on Twitter Wednesday. “He made a mistake 7 years ago. He admitted, he apologized and most important: He learned from it.”
Hader, in just his second year in the majors, was making his All-Star debut. The reliever earned his spot on the NL squad with a 1.50 ERA over 48 innings in the first half of the season with 89 strikeouts, 19 walks and seven saves.