Boston Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke revealed the club elected not to play their scheduled game Thursday against the Toronto Blue Jays after outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. informed the team he wouldn't participate.
Roenicke said Bradley told him and Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom on Thursday morning he wouldn't suit up, according to the Providence Journal's Bill Koch. After speaking individually with the rest of the roster, the Red Sox decided as a team not to participate.
"The veterans, their decision was to back Jackie and his decision," Roenicke said.
Major League Baseball announced the Boston-Toronto contest has since been postponed, joining other delayed games Thursday.
Three other games were postponed Wednesday as players opted not to play following similar protests in the NBA, WNBA, and MLS in response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The NHL, which did not call off any games Wednesday, announced Thursday its players decided not to play any postseason games until Saturday.
"If you're a kid and you turn on the TV tonight and you don't see that we're playing and you ask your parents 'Why aren't the Red Sox playing?' I hope the parents have a serious discussion with their kids and tell them what's going on," Roenicke said Thursday, courtesy of NESN. "Explain what's going on, because we need to discuss these things more. We need to listen more. And that's the only way that we're going to change."
Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said his team was prepared to play but supported their opponent's stance once they were made aware of Bradley and Boston's decision, according to MLB.com's Keegan Matheson.
Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts said Bradley has the full support of the rest of the roster.
“We're 100% behind Jackie," he told Guerin Austin of NESN.
