Milwaukee Brewers’ Josh Hader Will Go Through Sensitivity Training After Old, Offensive Tweets Resurface

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Josh Hader has been under scrutiny after tweets he posted in 2011 and 2012 resurfaced this week.

Screenshots of past tweets quoting rap songs and at least one movie were retweeted while Hader was pitching in Tuesday’s 2018 Major League Baseball All-Star game in Washington, D.C.

Many labeled the posts as homophobic, racist and derogatory toward women.

Hader said he didn’t know about the circulating screenshots until after the game and he didn’t know the full extent of posts that were available to the public.

“There’s no excuse for what was said and you know, I’m deeply sorry for what I’ve said and you know, what’s been going on,” Hader told reporters after the All-Star Game. “And like I said, it doesn’t reflect any of my beliefs going on now.”

Hader’s teammate Lorenzo Cain told reporters Tuesday night that he was trying to understand the situation.

“He’s young, you know we all said some crazy stuff when we were young,” Cain said.

Milwaukee Brewers General Manager David Stearns issued a statement Wednesday calling Hader’s past comments inexcusable, adding that they don’t represent the views of the team.

“Those of us that have come to know Josh do not believe that these posts are representative of his beliefs. He has been a good teammate and contributor to the team in every way,” Stearns said.

MLB issued a statement of its own also calling comments offensive.

“After the game, Mr. Hader took the necessary step of expressing remorse for his highly offensive and hurtful language, which fails to represent the values of our game and our expectations for all those who are a part of it,” the MLB statement read.

According to MLB, Hader will have to go through sensitivity training. He is also expected to take part in the MLB’s diversity and inclusion initiatives.