Following a critical mistake during a game against the Chicago White Sox, Yu Chang, the first baseman for the Cleveland Indians, shared some derogatory anti-Asian messages he received on social media.
Chang, who is from Taiwan, took to Twitter to reveal some of the hurtful comments directed at him. One message made a racist remark about his “slanty eyes” affecting his playing ability, while another comment made an insensitive reference to the coronavirus. In response, Chang emphasized the importance of expressing opinions respectfully, stating, “I welcome all feedback, whether positive or negative, but there is no place for racist remarks. Thank you all for your support and love.”
Upon sharing his experience, Chang was met with an outpouring of support and encouragement from fans in Cleveland and beyond. Unfortunately, this type of discriminatory behavior is all too familiar for Asian athletes in the U.S., as seen with former NBA player Jeremy Lin.
The offensive messages were directed at Chang shortly after he was positioned at first base for the first time this season. The 23-year-old, usually an infielder, found himself in a crucial moment during Monday night’s game when he attempted a play to secure an out at second base but accidentally hit White Sox player Yasmani Grandal’s helmet. This error led to Nick Madrigal scoring the deciding run for Chicago in the game’s ninth inning.
