SEATTLE – Major League Baseball is looking into Wednesday night’s bench-clearing incident between the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners, in which Houston reliever Hector Neris allegedly yelled a homophobic slur in Spanish at Mariners outfielder Julio Rodríguez, a league source said Thursday.
Neris apologized for his actions in a statement Thursday afternoon, but called allegations that he used an anti-gay slur “just wrong.”
“That didn’t happen and any suggestion to the contrary is wrong,” Neris said. “My mother raised me to love and respect people for who they are and that’s how I live my life.”
Rodríguez declined to comment Thursday when asked if he heard Neris use a homophobic slur.
“I will keep the comments (private),” said Rodríguez. “But I feel you have to show respect. He is someone I respect a lot. I have known him for a long time, since 2020, during the pandemic. I just feel like I deserve a little more respect. “
Neris charged Rodríguez after the pitcher hit the star outfielder to strand the tying run at first base during the sixth inning of Houston’s 8-3 win. The benches and bullpens were cleared, but no punches were thrown. Neris needed two separate escorts from the field.
Seattle third baseman Eugenio Suárez, who was on deck at the time of Rodríguez’s strikeout, told multiple outlets Wednesday night that Neris yelled an expletive.
Suárez declined further comment Thursday before the Mariners’ series opener against the Texas Rangers at T-Mobile Park. Asked Wednesday night what he said to Rodríguez, Neris responded in part: “like when he hit me ‘I got you.’ Now I say ‘You got me.'”
Rodríguez said he was “quite honestly confused” by Neris’ actions. Neris described the two as part of a “friendly competition,” but apologized to Rodríguez, his family and the Mariners organization for how it happened.
“My intention in going to Julio was to get his attention as part of the friendly ongoing banter we’ve had over the years,” Neris said. “I know that last night I should not have gone to him like I did. I meant no disrespect to him, his family or the Mariners. I understand how my actions can be interpreted that way.”
Neris and Rodríguez were, by all accounts, relatively friendly before Wednesday’s brouhaha. Both are represented by the same agent, have worked together in past offseasons and played for Team Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic in March. Rodríguez is generally well liked by the entire clubhouse in Houston, too.
“I just felt (Neris) went a little overboard. I get the part where you celebrate, you can get excited. But to come down and my face like that, that I won’t take, not only hers, I think I have a friend. Not just from him, but from anyone,” said Rodríguez.
“That’s something I won’t take. I didn’t appreciate the way he handled it.”
Rodríguez said Neris reached out to try to apologize, but Rodríguez said he would “not” communicate with Neris and “leave it as it is, leave it alone.”
“Even if we have friends, sometimes when we step on the field, we forget about that. It’s hard to learn it that way. But soon, I will learn something like that. I’m glad it happened. I can move forward,” said Rodríguez.
Wednesday’s benching incident was the third between the Mariners and Astros this season and at least the fifth since 2022. Before Wednesday’s game, Houston manager Dusty Baker acknowledged the “bad blood ” who has been mixing between the two organizations for a long time, spanning his entire tenure. Mariners pitchers hit Chas McCormick, Yainer Diaz and Jose Altuve during this week’s series, adding to Baker’s ire.
In June, Neris was ejected from a game against the Mariners at Minute Maid Park where he threw at Suárez and hit Ty France. He received a four-game suspension for “deliberately throwing the Mariners’ Eugenio Suárez in the head area while warnings were in place,” according to the league. Neris had his suspension reduced to three games on appeal.
Rodríguez grabbed Neris during the game and celebrated demonstratively while circling the bases, but according to Rodríguez, it had nothing to do with the benching incident on Wednesday.
“I’m celebrating with myself and my team. I didn’t look at him once. I never tried to let him know, ‘I hit a home run against you.’ I celebrate the situation more,” said Rodríguez. “That’s what I want to see from someone I thought was my friend.”
It’s unclear whether the league is considering suspending Neris, but losing him for any length of time would shock a surging Astros bullpen amid their playoff push. Neris has a 1.78 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 69 appearances and has not scored in 14 of his past 15 outings.
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(Photo: AP Photo / Lindsey Wasson)