Yahoo Sports Reds TV announcer apologizes to Ozzie Albies for contract comment
A day after saying that Atlanta Braves star Ozzie Albies may not have known the difference between $35 million and $85 million, Cincinnati Reds broadcaster Chris Welsh has apologized to the ballplayer.
Welsh’s comments occurred during the Braves’ 3-1 win over the Reds on Wednesday night. On the topic of Albies’ seven-year $35 million extension Welsh said:
“It’s funny, I’ve read a lot about it, and I’ve read opinions on both sides. A lot of people are blaming the agent for letting him sign a deal like that. But Albies came from a very poor background, he’s from Curaçao, and if somebody offers you $35 million—I mean, he may not know the difference between $35 million and $85 million. It’s going to have a tremendous positive effect on his family and himself, maybe the people in his immediate family or extended family. I mean it changes the lives of so many people.”
So, here's the full comments from the Cincinnati Reds broadcast about Ozzie Albies and the deal he took. pic.twitter.com/eSYMXMk7px
— Justin Russo (@FlyByKnite) April 25, 2019
His comments were met by fierce backlash from fans for insinuating that Albies did not know the difference between two large sums of money during contract extension discussions.
Following Wednesday’s ordeal, Welsh apologized to Albies for his comments during pregame clubhouse availability.
Reds announcer Chris Welsh just stopped in the Braves’ clubhouse to apologize to Ozzie Albies regarding the comments he made during last night’s broadcast
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) April 25, 2019
When asked about what he and Albies discussed, Welsh elected to keep the conversation private, per the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Instead, Welsh addressed the conversation and larger controversy during Thursday’s Reds broadcast against the Braves.
"I used some words last night that are just not very good choices for words. In fact, they were uninformed and they were wrong. And when I went back home later on last night and I looked at them online, it was embarrassing for me. I hardly slept at all. And it's been bothering me. So the first thing I did when I got to the ballpark today – I went down to the Braves' clubhouse. I sought out Ozzie Albies. We had a conversation. I apologized to him and his family for the remarks that I made. I apologize to all of the viewers out there who watch Reds baseball. Not like me to say something like that. In 27 years, it's never happened before. Will not happen again. And we're ready to move on."
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