Former Red Sox relief pitcher Joe Kelly became the latest player to weigh in on the subject of Josh Donaldson’s comment to Tim Anderson.
Anderson, Kelly’s White Sox teammate, was called “Jackie” by the Yankees’ third baseman during a game between the two teams on Saturday. It was in reference to Jackie Robinson, and was seen by Anderson — who is Black — as a “disrespectful comment.”
Chicago manager Tony La Russa called it “racist.”
“I don’t really play like that,” Anderson said afterward. “I don’t really play at all. I wasn’t really bothering nobody today but he made the comment and it was disrespectful.