DENVER– Colorado Rockies basic manager Jeff Bridich said he supports Ian Desmonds choice to sit out the 2020 season to focus on his young family and help revitalize youth baseball in his hometown in Florida.
Bridich said he had a pair of recent conversations with the outfielder, who announced his decision in a lengthy and wholehearted Instagram post Monday night.
Desmond, 34, wrote that the “COVID-19 pandemic has actually made this baseball season one that is a risk I am not comfy taking.” The slugger, who is biracial, likewise mentioned myriad problems within baseball, consisting of sexism, homophobia and socioeconomic concerns, in addition to the racial reckoning that emerged after George Floyds death while in cops custody in Minneapolis triggered protests around the world.
” The discussions with Ian felt the exact same that his written words feel to me,” Bridich stated, “which is from the heart and sincere., but Im not surprised.”
Desmond, who struck.255 with 20 homers in 140 video games last season, had been due $5,555,556 for the prorated share of his $15 million wage, part of a $70 million, five-year contract. He is owed $8 million next year, and his deal consists of a $15 million group alternative for 2022 with a $2 million buyout.
Opting out this summertime does not impact his 2021 status, nor does it affect his relationship with Bridich.
” Ian is extremely thoughtful in what he does, hes thoughtful in how he prepares as an expert athlete, hes thoughtful as a hubby and a father … hes thoughtful about things that are larger than him,” Bridich said. “And to this point, the referral has actually been the team or the clubhouse or the locker space, or things that affect the organization, his charity work, passion jobs of his beyond the video game of baseball.
” Hes willing to commit a lot of time and energy and believed to all of the things that he does. Therefore when you have someone like that who is an expert athlete who is in the thick of it every day and trying to do the best that he can to hold up his end of the bargain as an athlete, a teammate, an entertainer, and then hes constantly happy to think of other individuals on the group, in the organization and outside the organization, its simple to gravitate to individuals like that.”
Ian Desmond struck.255 with 20 homers in 140 video games last season. He had been due $5,555,556 for the prorated share of his $15 million salary this season, part of a $70 million, five-year contract. AP Photo/David ZalubowskiDesmond complained about a lack of variety in baseball and slammed the clubhouse environment, saying it consists of sexism, racism and homophobia. Bridich stated Desmond didnt complain particularly about the Rockies clubhouse, but Bridich did acknowledge the organization might be more varied.
In his Instagram post, Desmond stated he has been sharing more of his ideas and experiences as a biracial male since Floyds death on May 25. Floyd, a Black guy in handcuffs, died after a white law enforcement officer held his knee on Floyds neck for more than seven minutes.
Desmond stated his mind began racing during a recent visit to the Sarasota baseball fields that he used as a kid. He discussed how they looked run-down and overlooked and how important youth baseball was for him growing up.
Desmond said he wants to assist Sarasota Youth Baseball return on track.
1 RelatedIts a huge loss for Colorado, who positioned Desmond on the restricted list Tuesday and accepted a minor league handle Matt Kemp. The veteran slugger owns a. 327 batting average with 21 crowning achievement and 77 RBIs over 86 profession games at Denvers downtown ballpark.
” Yeah, were well aware of the damage that hes done versus us,” Bridich said of Kemp.
” The conversations with Ian felt the precise same that his written words feel to me,” Bridich said, “which is from the heart and sincere. Ian Desmond hit.255 with 20 homers in 140 games last season. AP Photo/David ZalubowskiDesmond complained about an absence of diversity in baseball and slammed the clubhouse environment, stating it consists of homophobia, sexism and racism. Bridich said Desmond didnt grumble particularly about the Rockies clubhouse, but Bridich did acknowledge the organization could be more varied.
” The DH is an obvious advantage in terms of his prospective location on our major league lineup,” Bridich said.
Kemp, who is anticipated in Denver by Thursday, will have to earn his way onto the roster, and hell take advantage of the National League utilizing the designated player when pro baseball efforts to begin the coronavirus-delayed season in late July.
” The DH is an apparent benefit in terms of his potential location on our significant league lineup,” Bridich stated. “That was going to be the case whether Ian opted in or decided out, and so again, its a right-handed power bat.
The Associated Press added to this report.
