![\"Anthony](\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/230609172946-toronto-blue-jays-anthony-bass-lbgtq.jpg?c=16x9&q=h_720,w_1280,c_fill\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAnthony Bass of the Toronto Blue Jays delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins in the ninth inning of the game at Target Field on August 4, 2022, in Minneapolis. David Berding\/Getty Images CNN \u2014 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Toronto Blue Jays<\/a> have designated pitcher Anthony Bass for assignment following an anti-LGBTQ post the 35-year-old shared on social media last month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The move comes hours before the Blue Jays\u2019 first game of Pride Weekend when the team faces the Minnesota Twins. Bass was expected to take part in the festivities including catching the ceremonial first pitch on Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said Friday that Bass\u2019s performance on the field was primarily a baseball decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Atkins added that the team values the LGBTQ community and expressed regret for any mishandling of the situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe definitely don\u2019t want anyone feeling any hurt,\u201d Atkins said. \u201cWe\u2019re focused on the environment. We care about this community. We care about our fans. And I deeply regret if people do feel that way. It certainly was not our intention.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In May, Bass shared an Instagram post that called for anti-LGBTQ boycotts of Target and Bud Light over their support for the LGBTQ community and referred to the support as \u201cevil\u201d and \u201cdemonic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bass later apologized for the post while speaking to reporters, but has been booed by fans at the Rogers Centre since.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On Thursday, Bass expanded on his original apology, saying he was sorry for \u201cany harm or hurt\u201d that he made toward the Pride community. However, he added that he stands by his \u201cpersonal beliefs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe video itself, obviously, I took it down,\u201d Bass said. \u201cI just felt like it was too much of a distraction, right? But I stand by my personal beliefs and everyone\u2019s entitled to their personal beliefs, right? But also I mean no harm toward any groups of people. And I felt like taking that down the second time was the right thing to do and not being a distraction. As a team, our job is to win baseball games. And that\u2019s my focus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bass said he did not perceive the post to be \u201chateful\u201d but added that he understood why some people viewed it as \u201churtful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The 12-year veteran said he had a \u201cproductive\u201d meeting with Pride Toronto\u2019s executive director Sherwin Modeste earlier this week to understand more about LGBTQ community in the city and learn about Modeste\u2019s story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBefore I said anything, I really wanted just to listen to what he had to say. Those were my intentions going into the meeting, and I felt like it was very productive,\u201d Bass said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bass met with Atkins and team manager John Schneider last week and according to Atkins on Thursday, Bass apologized to them and his teammates for \u201ccreating any harm and for hurting others.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat was not his intent,\u201d Atkins added. \u201cHis emotion was very strong, as was mine. I was personally hurt, myself. He felt my disappointment and anger. It was a very charged exchange.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Atkins said he felt Bass\u2019s apology was \u201csincere\u201d and that he felt he was holding himself \u201caccountable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat was the most significant piece is that he was accountable,\u201d Atkins said. \u201cHe wanted to apologize, not just to me, which was very important, but more importantly to our community and this community. Without that, as I said, we\u2019d have a very different outcome. And then I think the willingness to do something about it, being paramount and seeing that step taken is a good first step.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n As for a message for fans who may be against participating in the weekend\u2019s festivities, Atkins said the organization will \u201ccontinue to work hard to make sure that this is an inclusive environment and one where we will not stand for behavior that makes it otherwise.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bass has a 4.95 ERA in 22 relief appearances this season for the Blue Jays. Bass has also pitched for the San Diego Padres, Houston Astros, Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs, Seattle Mariners and Miami Marlins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a corresponding roster move, Toronto reinstated right-hander Mitch White from the 60-day injured list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Designated for assignment<\/a> means the Blue Jays can trade Bass in the next seven days, and if they don\u2019t, they can place him on irrevocable outright waivers \u2013 where he will be released or claimed by another team.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Anthony Bass is the latest victim of the tyranny and intolerance of the many corporate backers of the homosexual agenda. Bass made a critical post online about the LGBTQ community. Although he apologized, he added: … Continue reading