Kevin Pillar

Blue Jays' Kevin Pillar apologizes for homophobic slur, is suspended 2 games

Published May. 18, 2017 4:52 p.m. ET

Chris Bahr

Things got ugly between Atlanta and Toronto on Wednesday night — even uglier than first believed. On Thursday, the Blue Jays suspended center fielder Kevin Pillar for two games as a result of a homophobic slur he directed toward Braves reliever Jason Motte during an in-game argument.

https://twitter.com/ShiDavidi/status/865303226018607104

https://twitter.com/gregorMLB/status/865305757318643712

Earlier on Thursday, Pillar acknowledged the incident via a tweet and said he had apologized to Motte.

https://twitter.com/KPILLAR4/status/865269119192633345

Tensions were high throughout Atlanta's 8-4 win on Wednesday. There was the fifth-inning pitch that hit Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman on the left wrist (and could sideline him for 10 weeks), then the seventh-inning shouting match between Pillar and Jason Motte that emptied the benches after what Pillar believed was a “quick pitch,” and finally another benches-clearing incident in the eighth inning after Jose Bautista’s latest bat flip.

In addition to the two-game suspension he received from the Blue Jays, Pillar could face additional discipline from Major League Baseball, which is investigating the incident.

Prior to announcing the suspension, the Blue Jays also issued this statement Thursday:

https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/865273099478065152

The Braves and Blue Jays will play the finale of their four-game series tonight in Atlanta – with the Braves looking for a sweep.

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Kevin Pillar

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