On Thursday night, the Boston Red Sox gave pitcher Matt Dermody his first start with the team during Pride Month despite the fact that he made some egregiously homophobic comments back in 2021. But much to the delight of the LGBTQ community and baseball fans across the country, he had a pretty terrible game.
Back in 2021, when he was still playing in Japan, Matt Dermody sent a tweet claiming that homosexuals “will go to hell” before deleting it after the backlash it caused.
“#PrideMonth. Homosexuals will not inherit the kingdom of God. They will go to hell. This is not my opinion, but the #Truth. Read 1 Corinthians 6:9. May we all examine our hearts, ask Jesus to forgive us and repent of all our sins. I love you all in Christ Jesus!” Dermody said in the since-deleted tweet.
Despite the tweet, the Red Sox allowed him to start anyway with Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom claiming that Dermody “didn’t realize” that his words would be hurtful to some people.
That decision seems to have backfired.
Really nice move by Chaim Bloom and the Red Sox by calling up Matt Dermody for a spot start, who not only has off the field issues, but also on the field issues with being flat out awful at his job.
You mean to tell me there was no one else in AAA?? pic.twitter.com/p2HCozwifM
— Jordan Moore (@iJordanMoore) June 9, 2023
Dermody had a rough showing from the start, hitting the first batter of the game with a pitch. He then gave up a home run to Jose Ramirez just two batters later. Ultimately, he pitched just four innings where he surrendered two home runs and three total runs. And fans were absolutely delighted with his horrible showing.
Chaim Bloom must think the Red Sox’ gay fans are stupid. Matt Dermody didn’t think he was offending anybody when he tweeted that gay people are going hell? Keeping a homophobe on the team represents an inclusive environment? We aren’t sheep.
— Alex Reimer (@AlexReimer1) June 8, 2023
I’ve been a Red Sox fan for as long as I can remember but I hope they get crushed tonight with homophobe Matt Dermody on the mound. With all that mediocre talent in their system, Chaim Bloom couldn’t find a less-awful human being to pitch against Cleveland?
— Rich Kimball (@DowntownRichK) June 8, 2023
Matt Dermody also thinks home run is also a liberal conspiracy hoax. https://t.co/sZQEn3pmed
— Greg Cameron (@Greg_Cameron) June 8, 2023
This is what you get @RedSox for starting @Matt_Dermody.
— Bayleigh Von Schneider (@Fraulein89) June 9, 2023
Jose Ramirez sends a ball to the Kingdom of God off @Matt_Dermody
Guardians lead 1-0
— dj (@D33JxY) June 8, 2023
You deserve all of this @Matt_Dermody
— Gavin Blonda (@savvygavey) June 9, 2023
Happy Pride Month to Jose Ramirez for hitting two home runs off this homophobe Matt Dermody
— Indigo 🏈 (@Indigo6553) June 9, 2023
This is awesome. Matt Dermody is as bad at pitching as he is at being a human. It’s an absolute disgrace that he is wearing a Red Sox uniform. https://t.co/gSVAdQzBA4
— Justin Higgins (@Justin_Higgins2) June 8, 2023
There’s a very good chance Dermody heads right back down to the minor leagues after this showing.