Detroit Tigers television analyst Jack Morris apologized mid-game Tuesday night for an accent he used while referencing the Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani.
Ohtani was coming up to the plate in the top of the sixth inning when play-by-play announcer Matt Shepard asked Morris, “Now what do you do with Shohei Ohtani?” Ohtani, who is Japanese, is batting .269 with 39 home runs and 86 RBIs on the season.
Morris responded to Shepard’s question by using an accent and saying, “By very, very careful.”
Morris, a Hall of Fame pitcher who played for the Tigers from 1977-1994, apologized for his marks before the ninth inning.
"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, according to ESPN. "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."
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