Atlanta Braves Pitcher Sean Newcomb Apologizes for Offensive Tweets

ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Braves pitcher Sean Newcomb apologized Sunday for racist, homophobic and sexist tweets he sent as a teenager, calling them "some stupid stuff."

The 25-year-old Newcomb spoke less than an hour after nearly pitching a no-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The tweets were sent in 2011 and 2012.

"I just wanted to apologize for any insensitive material," Newcomb said. "It was a long time ago, six or seven years ago, saying some stupid stuff with friends." "I know I've grown a lot since then. I didn't mean anything by it. It was just something stupid I did a long time ago and I didn't mean anything by it, for sure."

Major League Baseball dealt with a similar situation this month involving Milwaukee Brewers reliever Josh Hader on the night he pitched in the All-Star Game.

"Such inappropriate comments have no place in our game. We are aware of this serious issue, Billy Bean will meet with Mr. Newcomb this week, and we will identify an appropriate course of diversity training for him in the Atlanta community," MLB said in a statement.

Bean is MLB's vice president for social responsibility and inclusion. He is a former big league outfielder who retired in 1995 and came out publicly in 1999.

Bean likely will be scheduling a meeting with Trea Turner as well after homophobic and racially insensitive tweets by the Washington Nationals shortstop from 2011 and 2012 surfaced Sunday night. The 25-year-old Turner apologized in a statement released by the team.

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