M's player suspended for controversial tweets ahead of series against Twins
Steve Clevenger's photo has been removed from the Mariners online roster
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (KMSP) - The Seattle Mariners announced on Friday catcher Steve Clevenger has been suspended for the rest of the season without pay. This comes ahead of the Mariners series at Target Field.
Fox 13 in Seattle reports, Clevenger posted two tweets on Thursday referring to the recent controversy over police shootings, particularly to the protests happening in Charlotte, N.C.
Statement from Jerry Dipoto, Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations on Tweets from catcher Steve Clevenger: pic.twitter.com/1xWk6dy5ap
— Mariners (@Mariners) September 23, 2016
Clevenger's tweets
“Black people beating whites when a thug got shot holding a gun by a black officer haha (expletive) cracks me up! Keep kneeling for the Anthem!”
“BLM is pathetic once again! Obama you are pathetic once again! Everyone involved should be locked behind bars like animals!”
Later on Thursday night, Clevenger issued an apology saying he was “sickened by the idea that anyone would think of me in racist terms”
Clevenger's Twitter is now private.
FULL STATEMENT:
The Twins open up their series against the Mariners tonight at 7:10 p.m.