San Francisco Giants pitcher Sam Coonrod was the only player to stand for a moment in honor of the Black Lives Matter move before the season opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and told reporters. after the game that as a Christian “cannot kneel before anything but God.”
MLB provided the teams with a long black ribbon that players on both sides held together as they knelt in the unit.
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All the players and coaches of the Washington Nationals and New York Yankees participated in the rally before their game, but hours later, Coonrod was alone.
I’m a Christian, “he said, according to TMZ Sports.” So I just think I can’t kneel before anything but God. “
Most members of the San Francisco Giants kneel during a moment of silence before an opening baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, on July 23, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo / Mark J. Terrill)
In addition to his religious beliefs, the 27-year-old relief pitcher said there are aspects of the movement that he disagrees with.
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“I just can’t address a couple of things I’ve read about Black Lives Matter, how they lean toward Marxism,” he continued. “And … they said some negative things about the nuclear family. I just can’t get on board with that.”
Team manager Gabe Kapler, who knelt during the ribbon ceremony and during the national anthem, said he respects Coonrod’s decision to stand up.
“All we said was that we were going to let people express themselves,” said Kapler. “We were going to give them the choice of whether they were going to stand, kneel, or do something else. That was a personal decision for Sam.”
Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts, who signed a 12-year, $ 365 million contract Wednesday, and some of the Giants knelt during the national anthem.
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Several players during the Nationals and Yankees game wore Black Lives Matter shirts during batting practice, while the letters “BLM” were stamped on the back of the mound in the center of the diamond.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
