Jack Morris, a television analyst for the Detroit Tigers, apologized Tuesday night for using an accent when describing what the Tigers should do when pitching to the Los Angeles Angels Shohei Ohtani, who was coming up to bat.
The game was tied at two in the top of the sixth inning, outfielder Juan Lagares had struck out and Ohtani, who is Japanese, was up next. Bally Sports Detroit play-by-play announcer Matt Shepard asked, “Now what do you do with Shohei Ohtani?” Morris responded with an accent “Be very, very careful.”
Ohtani was then intentionally walked. Morris addressed his earlier remarks and apologized before the start of the ninth inning when Ohtani was set to bat.
“Well folks, Shohei Ohtani is coming to the plate, and it’s been brought to my attention, and I sincerely apologize if I offended anybody, especially anybody in the Asian community for what I said about pitching and being careful to Shohei Ohtani,” Morris said. “I did not intend for any offensive thing, and I apologize if I did. I certainly respect and have the utmost respect for this guy and don’t blame a pitcher for walking him.”
