New York Mets pitcher Marcus Stroman pledged to persevere through “adversity and racist undertones” after Arizona broadcaster Bob Brenly joked Tuesday about the do-rag under the player’s cap.
As Stroman worked on the mound in the fourth inning against the host Arizona Diamondbacks, Brenly, a former Diamondacks manager who is now a Diamondbacks announcer for Bally Sports Arizona, said: “Pretty sure that’s the same do-rag that Tom Seaver used to wear when he pitched for the Mets.”
“Onward and upward...through all adversity and racist undertones. The climb continues through all!” Stroman tweeted after the Mets lost 6-5 in 10 innings. He allowed 3 runs in six innings.
Stroman suggested he couldn’t call the broadcaster’s remark “blatant racism,” as another person tweeted, “because media will turn this against me somehow.” But he did retweet other commenters who condemned the comment.
“Those who talk down on you are already beneath you,” the pitcher added Wednesday morning.
A Diamondbacks rep told USA Today the team was investigating.
Brenly apologized to Stroman in a statement issued later Wednesday by the Diamondbacks and said he’d seek sensitivity training “so that I can continue to learn from my mistakes in order to be better in the future.”
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“During last night’s game, I made a poor attempt at humor that was insensitive and wrong,” Brenly said. “I apologize to Marcus Stroman and have reached out directly to share those thoughts.”
This article has been updated to include Brenly’s statement.