Mariners Suspend Catcher Steve Clevenger For Rest Of Season Over Controversial Charlotte Protest Tweets

The Seattle Mariners decided on Thursday to suspend Steve Clevenger without pay for the remainder of the 2016 season, after the backup catcher sent a series of controversial tweets regarding the protests in Charlotte.

Mariners Suspend Catcher Steve Clevenger For Rest Of Season

Clevenger, 30, later apologized for the tweets, which addressed the recent unrest following the fatal shooting of Keith L. Scott, a black man, by police in the North Carolina city. Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto said the team was “very disappointed” to learn of Clevenger’s actions.

“As soon as we became aware of the tweets posted by Steve yesterday we began to examine all of our options in regard to his standing on the team,” Dipoto said Friday in a statement. “Today we have informed him that he is suspended for the reminder of the season without pay.”

The statement continued: “While he is certainly free to express himself, his tweets do not in any way represent the opinions of the Seattle Mariners. We strongly disagree with the language and tone of his comments.”

Clevenger’s posts, sent from his private Twitter account Thursday afternoon, were screen-grabbed and the reposted by a Seattle TV reporter, displayed inflammatory language about the Charlotte riots.

“Black people beating whites when a thug got shot holding a gun by a black officer haha s— cracks me up! Keep kneeling for the Anthem!” tweeted Clevenger, who was out for the season anyway after suffering a broken hand in June.

Another tweet read: “BLM (Black Lives Matter) is pathetic once again! Obama you are pathetic once again! Everyone involved should be locked behind bars like animals!”

In his apology late Thursday night, the catcher said he was “sickened by the idea that anyone would think of me in racist terms.”

Clevenger also added the tweets were “worded beyond poorly at best and I can see how and why someone could read into my tweets far more deeply than how I actually feel.”

He will lose approximately $34,000 in salary due to the suspension.

Clevenger has previously spent time with the Baltimore Orioles and Chicago Cubs over parts of six seasons since 2011, has played in 22 games this year in his first season with Seattle, batting .221 with one home run and seven RBIs in 68 at-bats.

He also explained, in his apology, what his upbringing was like in Baltimore, which he described as a “very culturally diverse area.”

“I grew up on the streets of Baltimore, a city I love to this very day,” Clevenger said. “I grew up in a very culturally diverse area of America and I am very proud to come from there. I am also proud that my inner circle of friends has never been defined by race but by the content of their character. Any former teammate or anyone who has met me can attest to this and I pride myself on not being a judgmental person. I just ask that the public not judge me because of an ill worded tweet.”

Clevenger also stated he supports both freedom of speech and law enforcement indiscriminately.

“I do believe that supporting our First Amendment rights and supporting local law enforcement are not mutually exclusive,” he said. With everything going on in the world I really just want what is best for everyone regardless of who they are. I like many Americans are frustrated by a lot of things in the world and I would like to be a part of the dialogue moving forward to make this a better world for everyone.”

The Mariners (80-72, 3rd in AL West) defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 2-1 at home on Wednesday, and after an off-day on Thursday, will next visit the Minnesota Twins Friday night in the first of a three-game series.

SEATTLE, WA – MAY 28: Steve Clevenger #32 of the Seattle Mariners heads back to the dugout after striking out with two runners on base to end the fifth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Safeco Field on May 28, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)