Contrite Donovan apologizes for derogatory tweets

CHICAGO -- Instead of Brendan Donovan celebrating the finest performance of his young MLB career -- registering his second three-hit game and driving in a personal best four runs, including two with the game tied in the 10th inning -- the Cardinals’ rookie mostly stared at the clubhouse floor, speaking in hushed tones late Saturday night.

Not long after Donovan’s 10th-inning double plated two runs in the Cardinals' 7-4 victory over the rival Cubs, online messages from Donovan’s past surfaced on Twitter that included derogatory and homophobic language. The two messages, which Donovan described as “playful banter” between he and a friend, were from nine and 11 years ago, when the now 25-year-old Donovan was a teenager.

“I take full responsibility,” the rookie said from the visitor’s clubhouse at Wrigley Field. “It was something that I sent out a long time ago. I’m truly sorry to anyone I may have offended. Anyone who knows me as a person knows that I see everyone the same and I do not condone that type of behavior. If I offended you by that, I truly apologize -- and hopefully I can do my part to show you that that’s not who I am.”

All 30 MLB teams are celebrating Pride Month throughout June. On June 10, the Cardinals will hold Pride Night at Busch Stadium and donate a portion of each ticket package purchased to PFLAG of Greater St. Louis.