Mariners CEO resigns

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Seattle Mariners chief executive Kevin Mather resigned on Monday effective immediately, a day after he apologized for remarks about current and former baseball players that were deemed insensitive.

Mather’s resignation was announced by club chair John Stanton who said he would serve as acting chief executive and president while they searched for a replacement.

“Like all of you, I was extremely disappointed when I learned of Kevin Mather’s recent comments. His comments were inappropriate and do not represent our organization’s feelings about our players, staff, and fans,” Stanton said.

“There is no excuse for what was said, and I won’t try to make one.”

Mather apologized after a video surfaced of him making controversial remarks on a 5 February Zoom call to a Seattle-area service organization called the Rotary Club.

In the call, he said Mariners former Japanese pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma’s command of English “was terrible” and prospect Julio Rodriguez “is loud, his English is not tremendous.”

“I’ve been on the phone most of the day today apologizing to the many people I have insulted, hurt, or disappointed in speaking at a recent online event,” Mather said.

“I am committed to make amends for the things I said that were personally hurtful and I will do whatever it takes to repair the damage.”

Mather joined the Mariners’ organization in 1996 as part of the finance department.