Detroit Tigers' Daniel Stumpf has no knowledge of spider monkey nickname

Anthony Fenech | Detroit Free Press

Show Caption Hide Caption Video: Detroit Tigers announce Chris Bosio firing Detroit Tigers announced Wednesday, June 27, 2018 the team has fired pitching coach Chris Bosio for insensitive comments.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Daniel Stumpf has no knowledge of the "spider monkey" nickname that put him at the center of Chris Bosio's firing, the Free Press has learned.

Bosio told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday he was fired as Tigers pitching coach for saying "monkey" in the clubhouse, a reference he claims was part of a "spider monkey" nickname meant for Stumpf but was taken out of context.

"Spider Monkey is not a nickname I have been called or I'm familiar with," Stumpf told the Free Press.

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Bosio has denied allegations of directing “insensitive comments” at a team employee, and on Thursday he told USA TODAY Sport’s Bob Nightengale that his comments were not racial in nature, rather a nickname for Stumpf.

Bosio was fired on Wednesday for violating the team’s zero-tolerance policy, general manager Al Avila said. He was in his first season as the Tigers' pitching coach.

Avila did not discuss the nature of the comments or who they were directed toward.

Bosio told Nightengale he was fired for using the word “monkey” in a conversation that was overheard by — but not involving — an African-American clubhouse attendant.

The Tigers responded to the USA TODAY article saying they "stand by the statement" originally issued on Wednesday.

“Someone in our coaches’ room asked me (Monday afternoon) about Stumpf. And I said, “Oh, you mean, 'Spider Monkey,' ” Bosio told USA TODAY Sports. “That’s his nickname. He’s a skinny little white kid who makes all of these funny faces when he works out.

“The kid thought we were talking about him. He got all upset. He assumed we were talking about him. I said, “No, no, no. We’re talking about Stumpf.’

“And that was it. I swear on my mom and dad’s graves, there was nothing else to it.’’

Stumpf said he did not have any further comment on the issue.

Stumpf is currently on a minor-league injury rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Toledo.

Contact Anthony Fenech: afenech@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @anthonyfenech.

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