Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran was caught on a hot microphone Sunday hurling a homophobic slur at a booing fan as Boston lost its third straight game to the visiting Houston Astros.
“Shut the f***ing f***** up,” Duran was told during the NESN broadcast.
The NESN booth either didn’t hear the slur or simply ignored it. Play-by-play announcer Dave O’Brien simply told the crowd that “Duran is .296 with runners in scoring position for the year.”
Duran, who was an All-Star for the first time in 2024, has since apologized.
“During tonight’s game, I used a truly horrible word when responding to a fan,” Duran said in a statement. “I feel terrible 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 should look up to me as a role model, but tonight I fell far short of that responsibility.
Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran was caught on a hot mic saying a homophobic slur
Duran is one of Boston’s best hitters this year with a .291 average and 14 home runs
‘I will use this opportunity to develop myself and my teammates and to grow as a person.’
While the audio isn’t entirely clear, it sounded like the yeller told Duran he needed a tennis racket to hit Astros starter Hunter Brown on Sunday.
The fan may have been right, as Duran was taken out three times that day.
Boston is currently slipping in the American Wild Card race after losing their last four games, including a three-game sweep of the visiting Astros.
The struggling Red Sox (61-55) now host Texas’ other team, the Rangers, for a three-game series.
Duran, who is one of Boston’s leading hitters this year with a .291 batting average and 14 home runs, was honored before the game with the team’s Heart and Hustle Award.
Major League Baseball has not yet publicly commented on the incident.
