Cincinnati Reds star Joey Votto penned an op-ed in the Cincinnati Enquirer on Sunday unpacking his feelings about the killing of George Floyd and the recent demonstrations across the country.
Votto opened the piece by saying he received a text from an African American teammate who told him to watch the video of Floyd's killing.
"My instincts provoked an instantaneous defense of the officer," Votto wrote. "Perhaps the man was resisting arrest? Maybe there is a story the video isn't telling?"
The six-time All-Star said he watched the video one day after the text exchange with his teammate and "wept" upon watching Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneel on Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes.