Milwaukee Brewers prospect David Denson has come out as the first openly gay player on a roster of a team affiliated with Major League Baseball.
The 20-year-old first baseman who plays for the Brewers’ rookie-ball affiliate reached out to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel over the weekend to break the news:
Talking with my teammates, they gave me the confidence I needed, coming out to them… They said, ‘You’re still our teammate. You’re still our brother. We kind of had an idea, but your sexuality has nothing to do with your ability. You’re still a ballplayer at the end of the day. We don’t treat you any different. We’ve got your back.’ …
That was a giant relief for me. I never wanted to feel like I was forcing it on them. It just happened. The outcome was amazing. It was nice to know my teammates see me for who I am, not my sexuality…
It’s a lot to take in right now… I’m a ballplayer first. That’s what I’m focusing on.
Back in 2014, Michael Sam became the first openly gay player to play in the NFL after being selected by the St. Louis Rams. He was eventually released prior to the start of the regular season and has since put his football career on hold, citing mental health issues.
[h/t: ESPN]