Blue Jays suspend Pillar 2 games for using homophobic slur

Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins announced Thursday that the team has suspended outfielder Kevin Pillar two games for uttering a homophobic slur at Atlanta Braves reliever Jason Motte during Wednesday's game at SunTrust Park.

Atkins told reporters in Atlanta that the decision was made in consultation with the MLB Players' Association and commissioner Rob Manfred. Per Sportsnet's Hazel Mae, there will be no further discipline against Pillar from the commissioner's office.

Pillar's lost salary will be donated to LGBTQ causes, though details have yet to be worked out, according to Sportsnet's Shi Davidi.

Pillar directed the slur at Motte in the seventh inning of Wednesday's game after believing he had been quick-pitched. The incident briefly caused the benches to clear.

The 28-year-old admitted to using the slur after the game, and issued an official apology to the Blue Jays, Braves, Motte, and the LGBTQ community Thursday afternoon, prior to the announcement of his suspension. He accepted his suspension and apologized again in a press conference Thursday afternoon.

"Hopefully people will learn from this ... there's no place for this language on field, at home, in (the) clubhouse, with your friends," Pillar said, according to Faizal Khamisa of Sportsnet.

"I have the ability to be made an example of, and I'm willing to accept that."

Related: Pillar 'utterly embarrassed' after using homophobic slur

In their own statement released earlier Thursday, the Blue Jays said the organization was "extremely disappointed" in Pillar.

Toronto called up 24-year-old outfielder Dwight Smith Jr. to take Pillar's spot on the roster.

This isn't the first time the Blue Jays organization has suspended a player for on-field homophobic actions. In 2012, shortstop Yunel Escobar was handed a three-game ban by the club after he wrote a homophobic message on his eye black during a game.