Hader apologizes for hurtful tweets

MILWAUKEE — Brewers reliever Josh Hader apologized to his team Friday after years-old racist and homophobic tweets surfaced during the All-Star Game.

Hader spoke with teammates before Friday night’s home game, which was to be the debut of Manny Machado with the Dodgers. It was first game for the Brewers since the All-Star break.

Outfielder Brett Phillips said Hader offered a sincere apology. Manager Craig Counsell described Hader as emotional and very remorseful.

Hader, 24, also apologized and took responsibility for the tweets after the All-Star Game, saying they did not reflect his values or the person he is now.

The tweets included uses of a slur used to disparage AfricanAmericans and one that simply said “KKK.”

Hader also met Friday with Billy Bean, Major League Baseball’s vice president for social responsibility and inclusion. Bean said he was sympathetic to Hader, whom he described as being in a “tremendous amount of pain.”

Bean spoke with Hader for a couple of hours. He said Hader’s experience as a professional athlete in an integrated, diverse environment “has created the person that he is today.”

After the All-Star Game on Tuesday night, Hader had said: “Being 17 years old, you make stupid decisions and mistakes. I was in high school. We’re still learning who we are in high school. You live and you learn. This mistake won’t happen again.”

On Thursday, teammate Travis Shaw said: “I can defend the person he is now. I would have never guessed that something like that would come from him. He’s a good kid now.”