Red Sox radio announcer Will Flemming has apologized for comments made during the team's recent game against the New York Yankees, where he called Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm a "bush league" player and suggested Boston pitchers should intentionally hit his teammate Austin Wells. Flemming stated that his remarks "crossed a line" and were influenced by his emotions as a fan.
The controversial commentary occurred in the eighth inning of a game on Sunday, with the Yankees leading 7-1. Chisholm had successfully stolen second and third base. Flemming, along with analyst Will Middlebrooks, expressed frustration with Chisholm's actions. Flemming questioned why Boston pitchers wouldn't "drill" Wells after Chisholm's stolen bases, while Middlebrooks characterized Chisholm's play as "selfish" and an attempt to "pad stats."
Following the game, Flemming took to X, formerly Twitter, to express his regret. "I’m emotional and a fan at heart and that bled into the broadcast," Flemming wrote. "I meant no disrespect to the Yankees players or organization. I could and should have used different words. These rivalry games get me fired up; I apologize for letting the emotion of the moment get the best of me."
Despite the apology, Flemming's comments drew reactions from several figures. Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler responded to Flemming's apology on Instagram with a clown emoji, and Hall of Famer CC Sabathia posted a middle finger emoji. NBA player Josh Hart also criticized the announcer on X, calling him "idiotic."
The Yankees went on to score nine runs in the eighth inning, with Chisholm's stolen bases and Wells' subsequent two-run homer contributing to the offensive surge.