Red Sox release pitcher at center of controversial start over homophobic tweet, according to report

Pitcher Matt Dermody was released by the Boston Red Sox on Friday, according to Masslive’s Sean McAdam. The move comes just over a week after he made his first major league start amid controversy over a homophobic tweet he authored in 2021.

Matt Dermody took the bump in Cleveland on June 9, surrendering three runs over four innings in Boston’s 10-3 loss. After the game, the 32-year-old baseball nomad apologized for a 2021 tweet that had resurfaced earlier that morning.

In the tweet on June 26, 2021, Dermody wrote, “#PrideMonth. Homosexuals will not inherit the kingdom of God. They will go to hell. This is not my opinion, but the #Truth. Read 1 Corinthians 6:9. May we all examine our hearts, ask Jesus to forgive us and repent of all our sins. I love you all in Christ Jesus!”

“I do regret the tweet in the sense that it came out hurtful and it hurt a lot of people,” Dermody said postgame. “That’s the last thing I want to do is hurt people. A lot of people think that I’m against a certain group of people or whatnot. But I’m for everybody making it to heaven.”

The Red Sox said they were unaware of Dermody’s tweet when he signed with the club in January. Once they learned of it, team officials met with Dermody, who went through mandatory anti-discrimination and harassment training in March.

The 32-year-old left-hander was designated for assignment last week, opening a seven-day window for the Red Sox to trade him or place him on waivers. Dermody had spent most of the 2023 seas in AAA Worcester.

Fenway Park hosted its annual Pride Celebration on Tuesday, June 13.

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