Blue Jays CF Kevin Pillar suspended two games for using a homophobic slur
Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Kevin Pillar is in some serious hot water after appearing to call Atlanta Braves pitcher Jason Motte a homophobic slur in a Wednesday night 8-4 loss. Pillar struck out after Motte quick-pitched him, and as Motte headed to the dugout, Pillar shouted something at him. Motte (as well as the umpire) took exception, and the benches cleared. No punches were thrown, and no one was ejected, but tensions remained high.
The entire Atlanta-Toronto series so far has been full of strain, with multiple hit batters on each side (including star Braves first-baseman Freddie Freeman exiting a game after being hit). Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista even pimped a meaningless home run later in the Wednesday night game, again much to the chagrin of the Atlanta crowd and team.
The use of the slur raises a few questions: obviously it’s wrong, but should we hold the same amount of resentment towards the use of team names like the Braves or the Indians, or even the famous “tomahawk-chop” used by Braves fans?
Pillar addressed media after the game. “It was immature, it was stupid, it was uncalled for,” he said. “It’s part of the game, I’m a competitive guy. You know, heat of the moment.”
The Blue Jays have suspended Pillar for two games according to GM Ross Atkins.
See below for a tweet sent by Pillar apologizing for the incident.
— Kevin Pillar (@KPILLAR4) May 18, 2017
Video via Sportsnet
