Fastball

Former Cincinnati Reds All-Star Infielder Roasted on "X" Over Controversial Post

Zack Cozart posted in response to a post from the Reds on "X."
Brady Farkas|
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Zack Cozart (2) throws a runner out at first base in the fifth inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field in 2017.
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Zack Cozart (2) throws a runner out at first base in the fifth inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field in 2017. | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

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Cincinnati Reds

Former Cincinnati Reds All-Star infielder Zack Cozart is in hot water on Thursday over a controversial post he made on "X."

The Reds, and several other teams around baseball, posted a purple graphic in support of Spirit Day. They said "The Reds join MLB in going purple today in honor of #SpiritDay! We are proud to support LGBTQ youth and speak out against bullying."

That evidently didn't sit well with Cozart, who said "This sh*t is getting ridiculous... so sick of it... how many months and days do we celebrate real heroes of the military?" He also included some angry emojis.

Cozart was called out on social media by several people, including prominent baseball journalist Keith Law.

All the time, with the anthem, military flyovers, veteran appreciation days, GBA, Memorial Day, teams asking veterans to stand for everyone to applaud, and more. But one tweet about supporting LGBTQ+ youth is too much?

From the popular Bat Flips and Nerds account out of Great Britain:

That happens at almost every single game in MLB history you narrow minded bigot.

And from Jeff Young of Fansided:

The Reds held 4 Military Appreciation Nights in 2024 and offer discounts to military and first responders. Please do a little bit of research next time before throwing a fit about an organization supporting bullying against LGBTQ youth.

The 39-year-old Cozart spent nine years in the big leagues with the Reds and Los Angeles Angels. He was a .247 hitter who made the All-Star team with Cincinnati in 2017. He had 24 homers and 63 RBI that season.

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Brady Farkas
BRADY FARKAS

Brady Farkas is a baseball writer for Fastball on Sports Illustrated/FanNation and the host of 'The Payoff Pitch' podcast which can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Videos on baseball also posted to YouTube. Brady has spent nearly a decade in sports talk radio and is a graduate of Oswego State University. You can follow him on Twitter @WDEVRadioBrady. 

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