Preston Wilson apologizes for making slavery comment during Astros TV broadcast

Tom Schad | USA TODAY

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Preston Wilson apologized Saturday for a reference he made to slavery during the television broadcast of the Houston Astros' game against the Cleveland Indians earlier in the day.

Wilson, who played 10 years in the major leagues, was working the game for the Astros' television affiliate, AT&T SportsNet Southwest. He brought up slavery during a discussion with fellow ex-player Jeff Bagwell and color commentator Geoff Blum about which pitches were the most difficult to hit.

"I don't know how you guys feel about this, Blummer and Baggy, but for me, it was the slider," Wilson said in the bottom of the first inning. "I can take the fastball. But I actually had somebody ask me if I could go back in history and change one thing, I skipped right over slavery and went to the slider. That's how I feel about it."

According to The Houston Chronicle, the 43-year-old then added: "I realized that was selfish, so then after I thought about it, I was like, you know what, maybe I should change what I said, but that's how hard it is to hit a slider in the big leagues."

Wilson, who is black, apologized on social media Saturday night.

"Earlier today I made a comment that may have offended people and for that I am sorry," he wrote on Twitter. "What I said was inappropriate and not a reflection of the Houston Astros nor AT&T SportsNet."

Earlier today I made a comment that may have offended people and for that I am sorry. What I said was inappropriate and not a reflection of the Houston Astros nor AT&T SportsNet. — Preston Wilson (@PrestonWilson44) May 20, 2018

An Astros spokesperson did not immediately reply to an email seeking comment on Wilson's remark.

Reach Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on Twitter @Tom_Schad.

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