Is Major League Baseball About To Get Its First Openly Gay Player?
Pitcher Sean Conroy, whom we first told you about last month, is racking up some impressive numbers in his rookie year with the minor league Sonoma (California) Stompers.
Conroy.Sean_Conroy, the first openly gay professional baseball player, made his first start on the teams LGBT Pride Night pitching a complete game shutout with 11 strikeouts as his teammates donned rainbow-colored socks in support. Conroy leads the team with an amazing 0.62 earned-run average, throwing 27 strikeouts and giving up just three walks in 28 innings, according to the teams stat page.
Because hes in the minor leagues, Conroy hasnt gotten as much attention as Jason Collins, Michael Sam or Robbie Rogers. But Conroy tells USA Today Sports he dreams of playing Major League Baseball, although he knows it would be a challenge:
Wherever I go next, whether thats in the MLB or with another team, Im going to be nervous, Conroy told USA TODAY Sports. Every time Ive come out to a team, Ive been able to feel out the situation first and kind of make sure there were no outliers who would react poorly. Anywhere I go, Im going to have a reputation as a gay player because Ive made national news. Ill have to be more prepared on my first day.
Conroy says he came out to his teammates shortly after joining the Stompers this summer, as a matter of respect. He was also out to his teammates in high school and college after coming out to his family at 16. Hes surprised at how much media attention hes gotten, and he didnt realize he was the first openly gay professional player. He also says hes heard plenty of homophobic locker room talk, but feels his presence changes the way other players think:
People think twice about it when they know theres a gay guy on the team, Conroy said. Theyll apologize or say, sorry, not in that way. Its a teaching point in some regards. I would say that my teammates have grown up with the equality side of things, but its different when none of them have had that gay teammate interaction. The face to face meeting is so much different than what you see on the news.
Read more:
http://www.towleroad.com/2015/07/major-league-baseball-get-1st-openly-gay-player/