Toronto Blue Jays Cut player who defended anti-queer post
The Toronto Blue Jays axed pitcher Anthony Bass, 35, on Friday after he received backlash and boos from fans for reposting a video to Instagram calling Target and Bud Light “evil” and “demonic” for being LGBTQ-friendly. community supported.
The Blue Jays announced on Friday they designated Bass for assignment, effectively removing him from the team just hours before he was scheduled to catch a ceremonial first pitch to kick off the team. Proud weekend for a series against the Minnesota Twins.
Last month, Bass reposted a video on Instagram calling for a boycott of both Target and Bud Light, which have recently drawn the ire of conservatives, Bud Light for including a transgender influencer in a social media promotion, and Target for promoting its Pride collection, which includes clothing and books for children. The video, which came from a biblical-themed Instagram page, was briefly posted by Bass on his Instagram story in late May.
After the post caused backlash, Bass told reporters he apologized for sharing the post because it was “hurtful to the Pride community.” Bass said he would work with the team to “make better decisions in the future”.
“The ballpark is for everyone,” said Bass. “We involve all fans on the ballpark and we want to welcome everyone.”
The backlash against Bass was the latest example of a Major League Baseball team getting into trouble with the LBGTQ community. Last month, the Los Angeles Dodgers were called out by some fans after the team, under pressure from Catholic critics, dropped the Sisters of Perpetual Indulggence at Pride Night’s pregame ceremony. The Dodgers later reversed that decision after multiple LGBTQ groups pulled out of the event.
Last year, the Tampa Bay Rays faced questions after the team allowed several players to refrain from wearing the team’s Pride Night uniforms.
The fallout in Toronto seemed to have settled down until Thursday when, speaking to reporters, Bass defended the message in the post he shared.
“I stand by my personal beliefs,” Bass told reporters. “And everyone is entitled to their personal beliefs, right? I also mean no harm to any group of people.
When asked if he thought the post he shared was hateful, Bass said, “I don’t.”
“That’s why I originally posted it,” Bass told reporters Thursday. “Looking back on it, I can see how people would see it that way and that’s why I apologized.”
Toronto general manager Ross Atkins told reporters on Friday that the move to eliminate the replacement pitcher was mainly prompted by his performance this season.
In 22 games this season, Bass threw 20 innings, with a mediocre run average of 4.95. In 2022, he recorded a 1.54 ERA in 73 games, both career bests.
“There are a lot of variables and performance is usually the driving force,” Atkins said. “Performance was an important aspect of this decision. Distraction was a small part of it, and something we had to reckon with.
Since making his major league debut in 2011, Bass has bounced from team to team. In 2016, he left MLB to pitch professionally in Japan, before returning to the United States.
By designating Bass for assignment, the Blue Jays now have seven days to either trade him or permanently fire him.