Héctor Neris Stands Firm: “I Did Not Say a Slur to Julio Rodríguez”

Astros reliever Hector Neris has spoken out for the first time since Major League Baseball launched an investigation into his actions following an incident Wednesday. He again denied he uttered any homophobic words toward Seattle’s Julio Rodriguez and said he didn’t think his actions warranted any league punishment.

Neris yelled angrily toward Rodriguez after he struck him out in an 8-3 win Wednesday. Mariners third baseman Eugenio Suarez alleged Neris used a gay slur in Spanish. On Thursday, Rodriguez did not clarify what he heard from Neris.

“I never used those words,” Neris said through a translator Friday. “I was equally shocked when that report came out. Maybe it was something taken out of context. Maybe I should have smiled at the end of it. Clearly, I felt wrong charging him.” I didn’t say anything other than that, just said ‘kono.’”

When asked what ‘kono’ meant, Astros Spanish-language translator Jenloy Herrera replied that it meant ‘f—.’ “I literally just told him ‘hit, hit’ and then said ‘kono,’” Neris said, according to Herrera.

Neris said he has spoken to “several people” after Wednesday’s incident but did not say whether MLB officials have contacted him directly. The league opened an investigation into the incident Thursday, according to sources. Astros manager Dusty Baker said the team does not yet know if Neris could face any disciplinary action.

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“I don’t think I did anything that was a rule violation or that required disciplinary action from MLB,” Neris said. “It was nothing personal and I don’t think I broke any rules.”

On Thursday afternoon, Neris apologized to Rodriguez, his family and the Mariners organization for his actions, but denied any allegations that he used a homophobic slur. He said that “a lot of people are investigating what exactly was said.”

Neris said again on Friday that he felt his actions were taken out of context and that he regretted moving toward Rodriguez.

“I think in the video it looks a little bad, the intention,” Neris said. “Guys were yelling at each other, taunting, making fun. I thought it was one such moment, but obviously it looks different because I saw him moving toward me. Maybe that was a misunderstanding.”

Neris has contacted Rodriguez to apologize, but Rodriguez said Thursday that he does not intend to respond. The two men were friends before Wednesday’s incident, a relationship Rodriguez stressed is now broken.

“It’s not what you want to see,” Rodriguez said Thursday. “Especially when it’s someone you considered a friend.”

Neris did not say whether he had tried to contact Rodriguez again.

“He has his reasons for misunderstanding, but those are things I leave out,” Neris said. “Maybe we’ll talk about it later when everything is settled.”

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