Bruce Maxwell, the first Major League Baseball player to kneel during the national anthem, is frustrated he hasn't received the same opportunity to return to the majors that's been afforded other players with more baggage.

Following the kneeling ordeal in September 2017, Maxwell was arrested a month later on aggravated assault charges after a food delivery woman said he waved a gun at her. Maxwell pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct to have those charges dropped. The 28-year-old now plays for Monclova of the Mexican League after failing to land a contract with an MLB team.

Several baseball executives said last winter that they had no interest in Maxwell when he was a free agent because of his political demonstration, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.

"People looked at me in a different light because of that," the former Oakland Athletics catcher said, per Slusser. "People in baseball and fans look at me like a terrible person, an awful human being for standing up for what I believe in. Or for the arrest I had, and those charges were dropped.

"Now I watch big-league games and we've got guys who get opportunities day after day after cheating, after beating their wives and being proven guilty - depending on who they are or what team they play for, they get a pass from the fans and from MLB."

Maxwell specifically identified a pair of current big-leaguers.

"Addison Russell gets suspended for domestic violence and gets a new contract. Aroldis Chapman discharged a weapon at someone and has no problem getting a deal," he said. "People say you have to be stand-up citizens, but guys who are taking steroids come back and they still have jobs, guys who beat their wives are back like nothing happened.

"They pick and choose who they hold to a higher standard, and it's bullshit."

Maxwell helped Monclova win a championship after hitting .325 with 24 home runs and 112 RBIs. He didn't find much success in the majors, however, accruing a .661 OPS and five homers in 127 contests from 2016-2018.