Rockies outfielder Ian Desmond used a long, heartfelt Instagram post to announce he was opting out of MLB’s restart.
The outfielder who became the fourth MLB player to skip the 2020 season on Monday, cited being uncomfortable with risks surrounding coronavirus and the need to be with his young family.
“With a pregnant wife and four young children who have lots of questions about what’s going on in the world, home is where I need to be right now,” wrote Desmond, who would be forfeiting around $5.55 million in prorated salary by not playing. “Home for my wife, Chelsey. Home to help. Home to guide. Home to answer my older three boys’ questions about Coronavirus, Civil Rights and life. Home to be their dad.”
In the post, Desmond — who is biracial — also touched on the killing of George Floyd, the issue of race and the social inequality in America, something he believes baseball is not immune from.
“In clubhouses we’ve got racist, sexist, homophobic jokes or flat-out problems,” Desmond wrote. “We’ve got cheating. We’ve got a minority issue from the top down. One African American GM. Two African American managers. Less than 8% Black players. No Black majority team owners.”
The 34-year-old Desmond joins the Nationals’ Ryan Zimmerman and Joe Ross and the Diamondbacks’ Mike Leake as the first players to say they will not play in 2020. He hit .255 with 20 homers in 140 games last season for Colorado.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has made this baseball season one that is a risk that I am not comfortable taking,” Desmond wrote.