Red Sox Pitcher Criticized For Two-Year Old 'Anti-Gay' Tweet

John Simmons | June 9, 2023
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Last night, 32-year-old pitcher Matt Dermody started a game for the Boston Red Sox against the Cleveland Guardians after being called up from the minor leagues. But the start almost didn’t happen.

Before the southpaw pitcher made the trip to Cleveland for the game, the Red Sox organization found out that Dermody, a Christian, published a tweet that was deemed “homophobic” in 2021. While the tweet has been deleted, screenshots have circulated that show Dermody used the Bible to support his stance that anyone who lived an LGBT-lifestyle would not go to heaven.

Now say what you will about presenting the message, but Dermody didn’t say anything wrong or contrary to what Scripture teaches. Sure it was brash and not the most tactful statement ever made, but he’s allowed to say what he wants because of the First Amendment. At least he highlighted that all people (including himself) are sinners in need of forgiveness, and even told people how to find that forgiveness.

Unfortunately for Dermody, his big league start didn’t go so well. He only lasted four innings, giving up three earned runs and recording one strikeout in a 10-3 loss for Boston (he was the losing pitcher). After the game, Dermody was predictably asked to explain his tweet.

The pitcher actually gave a reasonable response, and didn’t make some sort of groveling apology to angry progressives. Furthermore, stated that he wants everyone to “go to heaven,” debunking the narrative that he’s a hateful human being.

"I do regret the tweet in the sense that it came out hurtful and it hurt a lot of people," Dermody said. "That's the last thing I want to do is hurt people. A lot of people think that I'm against a certain group of people or whatnot. But I'm for everybody making it to heaven." 

Related: MLB Pitchers DENOUNCE L.A. Dodgers Re-invitation of Anti-Catholic ‘Drag’ Group

But as you would expect, many in the Red Sox organization weren’t too pleased with Dermody and his actions. In fact, many higher-ups considered cutting him over this incident.

Before Thursday’s matchup, Boston general manager Chaim Bloom said that he talked to Dermody about what he did, and criticized the pitcher for using social media to spread this “hurtful” message.

"He also understood that it's not the right use of his platform. He knows he made a mistake tweeting that," Bloom said. "That's why he took it down. Obviously, that doesn't mean that we endorse anything he said or anything he believes. But the fact of the matter is, if we're committed to creating an (inclusive) environment, it's not right for us to police what people believe."

While the Red Sox do have the right to tell its employees how to behave, how Bloom and others handled the situation still looks bad. If Boston really cares about “inclusivity” and admittedly doesn’t try to control or police people’s thoughts, then why is the team lecturing one of its players about how he expressed his religious beliefs two years ago?

Red Sox fans also hurled plenty of shade at Dermody, with one fan even hoping that Dermody did horribly in his outing and even wished he would get seriously hurt.

That’s about as low as it gets. But go ahead, keep telling Christians why they’re the hateful bigots of the world.

Dermody was designated for assignment this morning (which basically the Red Sox cut him from the big league roster) to make room for outfielder Adam Duvall. Boston will have several days to consider a variety of options on how they want to involve him (or not) in their organization. But it’s safe to say that his future with the Red Sox is on thin ice because he doesn’t believe what Boston wants him to believe.

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