Organization encourages Sharp focus

Pitcher at forefront of BLM movement says he feels supported by manager, front office

Sterling Sharp actually feels encouraged.

Amid a tumultuous time that has forced a reckoning about racial injustice in the country, the Miami Marlins right-hander has made the most of his role in aiding the Black Lives Matter movement.

“I think [the movement] opened up the conversation more than in past years, especially in baseball, which, predominantly has been a pretty quiet sport on social injustice, kinda those topics around the world,” Sharp said Friday.

“You see it in basketball, football — those are mostly dominated by Black athletes. So I think this wave and trend has kinda opened up people of all races to engage themselves in this, and seek help, look for help themselves, ask Black players in the clubhouse their thoughts on things going around. So I’ve enjoyed being in the clubhouse around this time and having guys reach out for my thoughts — especially like Monte [Harrison], [Lewis] Brinson, Jazz [Chisholm], [Stephen] Tarpley.

“I’m happy to be here for guys like that that are open to listening.”

Sharp has been forthcoming in his thoughts on the subject from the moment George Floyd was killed by a police officer in Minneapolis on May 25th. He’s tweeted regularly in support of the movement.

On Juneteenth, the holiday that celebrates the end of slavery i n 18 6 5, t h e Mar l i n s tweeted out a quote from Sharp, which educated followers on the holiday’s meaning.

“Nobody’s free until everybody is free,” he said.

As an organization, Sharp

Sharp