<h2>Jarren Duran suspended two games for using homophobic slur</h2>
Boston Red Sox All-Star Jarren Duran has been<a href="https://x.com/JeffPassan/status/1823072824703262931"> suspended for two games</a> after a hot mic caught the outfielder using a homosexual slur in response to a heckling fan.
The viral clip caught Duran responding to a fan screaming: &#8220;<a href="https://x.com/stanton2024mvp/status/1822810914157887594">Tennis racket, tennis racket, you need a tennis racket</a>!&#8221;
Duran, who was adjusting his equipment outside the batter&#8217;s box, down 1-2 in the count, turned his head towards behind home plate and was seen saying something towards the fan.
&#8220;Shut up you f*****g f****t.&#8221;
Duran would make a statement after the clip made its rounds on social media apologizing for his language and actions.
&#8220;<a href="https://x.com/byJulianMack/status/1822804218320707617">During tonight’s game, I used a truly horrific word when responding to a fan. I feel awful knowing how many people I offended and disappointed. I apologize to the entire Red Sox organization, but more importantly to the entire LGBTQ community. Our young fans are supposed to be able to look up to me as a role model, but tonight I fell far short of that responsibility. I will use this opportunity to educate myself and my teammates and to grow as a person</a>.&#8221;
The Red Sox followed Duran&#8217;s statement, echoing his apology and asserting education to Red Sox employees on the importance of inclusivity.
There have been a few past instances of players or baseball personnel using homophobic slurs or discourse on the diamond or social media in previous years. Most recently, former Blue Jays pitcher, Anthony Bass was cut from the team after claiming pride-themed clothing in the kids section of Target was &#8220;demonic&#8221; and &#8220;evil.&#8221; Bass also sent out a post on Instagram supporting Christians boycotting Target as well as Bud Light because they support LGBTQ+ values. Bass has not played in the MLB since.
The most infamous recent instance of homophobic language used at the ballpark was from Cincinnati Reds broadcaster Thom Brennaman. On a road trip to Kansas City for the Reds, while thinking the broadcast had not yet returned from commercial and his mic was off the air, Brennaman dubbed KC with quite the title to his production team.
&#8220;The f&#8211; capital of the world.&#8221;
In the top of the fifth inning, Brennaman was made aware that the comment was heard on-air and had found its way around social media. While making his public apology live on the broadcast, Reds outfielder Nick<a href="https://x.com/BarstoolBigCat/status/1296256820944736263"> Castellanos hits a drive into deep left field for a home run, making it a 4-0 ballgame</a>&#8230; which Brennaman narrated in the middle of his apology.
Brennaman was swiftly removed from the broadcast team in Cincinnati but is now the lead announcer for College Football games for CW Sports.
There have also been three other recent instances of homophobic language over the past decade or so, and strangely enough, they all involve former or current Toronto Blue Jays.
Current Blue Jay, and at the time Houston Astro, George Springer was caught calling former umpire Angel Hernandez a derogatory term after being rung up on a questionable strike three call&#8230; shocker. 
After reminding Hernandez that the pitch was in the exact same location as a previous pitch, Springer was caught calling Hernandez a &#8220;<a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/news/report-george-springer-received-unspecified-punishment-for-use-of-homophobic-slur">c********r</a>&#8221; from the dugout. Springer was not suspended by the league but did say he received &#8220;<a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/news/report-george-springer-received-unspecified-punishment-for-use-of-homophobic-slur">unspecified discipline</a>.&#8221;
One recent on-field instance involves one of the most beloved Jays over the past ten years, Kevin Pillar. After striking out to Atlanta Braves pitcher Jason Motte in 2017, Pillar uttered the derogatory term towards the reliever. The benches would clear but cooler heads prevailed. Pillar would be suspended for two games for his actions which he called &#8220;<a href="https://x.com/ShiDavidi/status/865044662784069632">immature</a>,&#8221; &#8220;<a href="https://x.com/ShiDavidi/status/865044662784069632">stupid</a>,&#8221; and &#8220;<a href="https://x.com/ShiDavidi/status/865044662784069632">uncalled for.</a>&#8220;
The last example in recent years was the Yunel Escobar eye-black incident.
In September 2012, Escobar took the field at the Rogers Centre with the saying &#8220;tu ere maricon&#8221; across his eye-black. While the statement can be interpreted in numerous ways in English, none of which is positive. Some interpretations use the term as a homophobic slur while other translations use the word as a derogatory term for intellectually disabled people.
Escobar swore he meant nothing by the statement, claiming it was &#8220;<a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/big-league-stew/yunel-escobar-apologizes-gay-slur-eye-black-says-203605396--mlb.html">just a joke</a>&#8221; and that the term is commonly used by Latin Players. Escobar would face a three-game suspension and had to undergo sensitivity training. Escobar&#8217;s lost salary from the suspension was also donated to the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and You Can Play.
Duran will be eligible to return on Wednesday in the series finale against the Texas Rangers.
<h2>Baseball to officially be included in 2028 Los Angeles Olympics</h2>
As the 2024 Paris Olympics officially come to an end, the countdown to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics begins. With the event making its way stateside, the 2028 games will include some new games, including baseball.
Now this isn&#8217;t exactly breaking news, but more a confirmation. What comes next is whether or not MLB players will be involved in the 2028 Olympic Games.
As of right now, only amateur players and players not included on 40-man rosters are allowed to participate in baseball at the Olympics. However, stars like Bryce Harper and Shohei Ohtani have shown interest in playing in the games in the future.
&#8220;<a href="https://www.thescore.com/olym/news/2924538">The Olympics is something you dream about playing in</a>&#8221; said Harper. &#8220;<a href="https://www.thescore.com/olym/news/2924538">If I have a chance to put my nation’s colours on and represent as I did at 18 and 16, then I would love it</a>.&#8221;
As for Ohtani, he recognizes that Olympic participation opens the door for new fans of the game.
&#8220;<a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/will-there-be-mlb-players-in-the-2028-summer-olympics-185134509.html">I’d like to play in the Olympics. Also, knowing the fact that there will be non-baseball fans watching the games as well, I think it would be really good for the baseball industry</a>.&#8221;
Five other sports will also be either debuting or returning to the Olympics in 2028 including Cricket, Softball, Lacrosse, Flag Football, and Squash. Unfortunately for all the Twitter trolls, Breaking will not return to the games as it initially entered as a region-specific sport, despite its New York origins.  
<h2>Quick Notes:</h2>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Joe Ryan&#8217;s season is in jeopardy with a shoulder injury. After exiting his most recent start against the Chicago Cubs early with tightness in his bicep, Ryan has been diagnosed with a grade 2 teres major strain and will be out indefinitely.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">White Sox fire coaching staff after snapping historic losing streak. After finally snapping the 21-game losing streak, manager Pedro Grifol, bench coach Charlie Montoya, third base coach Eddie Rodriguez, and assistant hitting coach Mike Tosar have been fired by the team. Long-time Cleveland Indians outfielder, Grady Sizemore, will take over the managerial duties on the Southside.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">James Paxton to undergo an MRI after exiting start with a calf strain. Red Sox starter, James Paxton has hit the 15-day injured list after leaving his start against the Houston Astros after failing to cover first base on a ground ball to the right side. The Canadian limped to the dugout and was taken out of the game. </li>
</ul>

<h2>Jarren Duran suspended two games for using homophobic slur</h2>
Boston Red Sox All-Star Jarren Duran has been<a href="https://x.com/JeffPassan/status/1823072824703262931"> suspended for two games</a> after a hot mic caught the outfielder using a homosexual slur in response to a heckling fan.

The viral clip caught Duran responding to a fan screaming: "<a href="https://x.com/stanton2024mvp/status/1822810914157887594">Tennis racket, tennis racket, you need a tennis racket</a>!"

Duran, who was adjusting his equipment outside the batter's box, down 1-2 in the count, turned his head towards behind home plate and was seen saying something towards the fan.

"Shut up you f*****g f****t."

Duran would make a statement after the clip made its rounds on social media apologizing for his language and actions.

"<a href="https://x.com/byJulianMack/status/1822804218320707617">During tonight’s game, I used a truly horrific word when responding to a fan. I feel awful knowing how many people I offended and disappointed. I apologize to the entire Red Sox organization, but more importantly to the entire LGBTQ community. Our young fans are supposed to be able to look up to me as a role model, but tonight I fell far short of that responsibility. I will use this opportunity to educate myself and my teammates and to grow as a person</a>."

The Red Sox followed Duran's statement, echoing his apology and asserting education to Red Sox employees on the importance of inclusivity.

There have been a few past instances of players or baseball personnel using homophobic slurs or discourse on the diamond or social media in previous years. Most recently, former Blue Jays pitcher, Anthony Bass was cut from the team after claiming pride-themed clothing in the kids section of Target was "demonic" and "evil." Bass also sent out a post on Instagram supporting Christians boycotting Target as well as Bud Light because they support LGBTQ+ values. Bass has not played in the MLB since.

The most infamous recent instance of homophobic language used at the ballpark was from Cincinnati Reds broadcaster Thom Brennaman. On a road trip to Kansas City for the Reds, while thinking the broadcast had not yet returned from commercial and his mic was off the air, Brennaman dubbed KC with quite the title to his production team.

"The f-- capital of the world."

In the top of the fifth inning, Brennaman was made aware that the comment was heard on-air and had found its way around social media. While making his public apology live on the broadcast, Reds outfielder Nick<a href="https://x.com/BarstoolBigCat/status/1296256820944736263"> Castellanos hits a drive into deep left field for a home run, making it a 4-0 ballgame</a>... which Brennaman narrated in the middle of his apology.

Brennaman was swiftly removed from the broadcast team in Cincinnati but is now the lead announcer for College Football games for CW Sports.

There have also been three other recent instances of homophobic language over the past decade or so, and strangely enough, they all involve former or current Toronto Blue Jays.

Current Blue Jay, and at the time Houston Astro, George Springer was caught calling former umpire Angel Hernandez a derogatory term after being rung up on a questionable strike three call... shocker. 

After reminding Hernandez that the pitch was in the exact same location as a previous pitch, Springer was caught calling Hernandez a "<a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/news/report-george-springer-received-unspecified-punishment-for-use-of-homophobic-slur">c********r</a>" from the dugout. Springer was not suspended by the league but did say he received "<a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/news/report-george-springer-received-unspecified-punishment-for-use-of-homophobic-slur">unspecified discipline</a>."

One recent on-field instance involves one of the most beloved Jays over the past ten years, Kevin Pillar. After striking out to Atlanta Braves pitcher Jason Motte in 2017, Pillar uttered the derogatory term towards the reliever. The benches would clear but cooler heads prevailed. Pillar would be suspended for two games for his actions which he called "<a href="https://x.com/ShiDavidi/status/865044662784069632">immature</a>," "<a href="https://x.com/ShiDavidi/status/865044662784069632">stupid</a>," and "<a href="https://x.com/ShiDavidi/status/865044662784069632">uncalled for.</a>"

The last example in recent years was the Yunel Escobar eye-black incident.

In September 2012, Escobar took the field at the Rogers Centre with the saying "tu ere maricon" across his eye-black. While the statement can be interpreted in numerous ways in English, none of which is positive. Some interpretations use the term as a homophobic slur while other translations use the word as a derogatory term for intellectually disabled people.

Escobar swore he meant nothing by the statement, claiming it was "<a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/big-league-stew/yunel-escobar-apologizes-gay-slur-eye-black-says-203605396--mlb.html">just a joke</a>" and that the term is commonly used by Latin Players. Escobar would face a three-game suspension and had to undergo sensitivity training. Escobar's lost salary from the suspension was also donated to the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and You Can Play.

Duran will be eligible to return on Wednesday in the series finale against the Texas Rangers.
<h2>Baseball to officially be included in 2028 Los Angeles Olympics</h2>
As the 2024 Paris Olympics officially come to an end, the countdown to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics begins. With the event making its way stateside, the 2028 games will include some new games, including baseball.

Now this isn't exactly breaking news, but more a confirmation. What comes next is whether or not MLB players will be involved in the 2028 Olympic Games.

As of right now, only amateur players and players not included on 40-man rosters are allowed to participate in baseball at the Olympics. However, stars like Bryce Harper and Shohei Ohtani have shown interest in playing in the games in the future.

"<a href="https://www.thescore.com/olym/news/2924538">The Olympics is something you dream about playing in</a>" said Harper. "<a href="https://www.thescore.com/olym/news/2924538">If I have a chance to put my nation’s colours on and represent as I did at 18 and 16, then I would love it</a>."

As for Ohtani, he recognizes that Olympic participation opens the door for new fans of the game.

"<a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/will-there-be-mlb-players-in-the-2028-summer-olympics-185134509.html">I’d like to play in the Olympics. Also, knowing the fact that there will be non-baseball fans watching the games as well, I think it would be really good for the baseball industry</a>."

Five other sports will also be either debuting or returning to the Olympics in 2028 including Cricket, Softball, Lacrosse, Flag Football, and Squash. Unfortunately for all the Twitter trolls, Breaking will not return to the games as it initially entered as a region-specific sport, despite its New York origins.  
<h2>Quick Notes:</h2>
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Joe Ryan's season is in jeopardy with a shoulder injury. After exiting his most recent start against the Chicago Cubs early with tightness in his bicep, Ryan has been diagnosed with a grade 2 teres major strain and will be out indefinitely.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">White Sox fire coaching staff after snapping historic losing streak. After finally snapping the 21-game losing streak, manager Pedro Grifol, bench coach Charlie Montoya, third base coach Eddie Rodriguez, and assistant hitting coach Mike Tosar have been fired by the team. Long-time Cleveland Indians outfielder, Grady Sizemore, will take over the managerial duties on the Southside.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">James Paxton to undergo an MRI after exiting start with a calf strain. Red Sox starter, James Paxton has hit the 15-day injured list after leaving his start against the Houston Astros after failing to cover first base on a ground ball to the right side. The Canadian limped to the dugout and was taken out of the game. </li>
</ul>

MLB Notebook: Jarren Duran suspended two games for using homophobic slur

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