Newly acquired New York Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard issued an apology Tuesday after becoming the latest professional athlete caught for tweeting an anti-gay slur.
Syndergaard, 20, acquired Monday from the Toronto Blue Jays in a highly publicized deal, reportedly sent a tweet to minor league player Dayton Marze earlier this month, commenting on Marze’s footwear: “@DMarze89 nice crocs fag lol”, according to the New York Daily News.
During a conference call with New York media on Tuesday, Syndergaard called the incident a Twitter “mishap.”
“I had a little mishap on Twitter about a month ago, and it was just brought to the attention this morning,” Syndergaard said.
“I’d just like to apologize for anything that was said. A buddy and I were having a little conversation. I had a poor attempt at humor and an even worse attempt at using a term I shouldn’t have used. I hope I didn’t offend anybody.
“I’m really sorry my first introduction to being a New York Met had to be like this.”
The tweet, posted on Dec. 9 by Syndergaard, has since been deleted from his timeline, but a spokesman for the Mets said the team was investigating the incident.
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It was just three months ago when Syndergaard’s former team mate, then-Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Yunel Escobar wrote “tu ere maricon” (“you are a faggot”) on his eye block.
Escobar was dealt a three-game suspension for that slur, forfeiting wages of $82,000., which was donated to LGBT causes.
