Blue Jays Cut Pitcher Anthony Bass After Latest Anti-LGBTQ+ Comments
U.S. News & World Report TORONTO (AP) The Toronto Blue Jays cut pitcher Anthony Bass on Friday, one day after the right-handed reliever said he didnt think an anti-LGBTQ+ social media post he shared last month was hateful.
The move came hours before Bass was set to catch a ceremonial first pitch from Toronto LGBTQ+ activist leZlie Lee Kam before Fridays game against Minnesota as the Blue Jays begin their fourth annual Pride Weekend celebration.
The team now has seven days to trade Bass or put him on waivers.
Bass apologized before a May 30 game against Milwaukee, one day after sharing a post on his Instagram calling for anti-LGBTQ+ boycotts of Target and Bud Light over support they showed for the LGBTQ+ community. Both companies are dealing with fallout from those campaigns, which have included hostile and homophobic criticisms and calls from LGBTQ+ activists not to cave to the pressure.
