MIAMI -- Nationals infielder Trea Turner apologized for offensive tweets that he posted from 2011-12 and were brought to light late Sunday night. Turner released a statement in which he took full responsibility for his actions and apologized.
"There are no excuses for my insensitive and offensive language on Twitter," Turner's statement read. "I am sincerely sorry for those tweets and apologize wholeheartedly. I believe people who know me understand those regrettable actions do not reflect my values or who I am. But I understand the hurtful nature of such language and am sorry to have brought any negative light to the Nationals organization, myself or the game I love."
Turner's tweets, which included racist and homophobic slurs, surfaced in the hours after Sunday's 5-0 loss to the Marlins. He became the third player to have past offensive tweets recently unearthed, with Braves left-hander Sean Newcomb facing the media earlier Sunday as a result of similar remarks and Brewers reliever Josh Hader doing so earlier this month.
"I have spoken with Trea regarding the tweets that surfaced earlier tonight," Nationals general manager and president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo said in a statement. "He understands that his comments -- regardless of when they were posted -- are inexcusable and is taking full responsibility for his actions.
"The Nationals organization does not condone discrimination in any form, and his comments in no way reflect the values of our club. Trea has been a good teammate and model citizen in our clubhouse, and these comments are not indicative of how he has conducted himself while part of our team. He has apologized to me and to the organization for his comments."