• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Travel
  • Sports
  • Law/Justice
  • Celebrities
  • Republicans
  • Madonna
  • Books
  • Men
  • Trans Rights
  • Royals
  • Monkeypox
  • Sophia Bush’s girlfriend ‘proud’ the actress has opened up about coming out as queer
  • Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!
  • Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

Is Major League Baseball About To Get Its First Openly Gay Player?

John Wright July 23, 2015 Leave a Comment

Screen Shot 2015-07-23 at 9.40.54 AM

Pitcher Sean Conroy, whom we first told you about last month, is racking up some impressive numbers in his rookie year with the minor league Sonoma (California) Stompers.

Conroy.Sean_Conroy, the first openly gay professional baseball player, made his first start on the team's LGBT Pride Night — pitching a complete game shutout with 11 strikeouts as his teammates donned rainbow-colored socks in support. Conroy leads the team with an amazing 0.62 earned-run average, throwing 27 strikeouts and giving up just three walks in 28 innings, according to the team's stat page.

Because he's in the minor leagues, Conroy hasn't gotten as much attention as Jason Collins, Michael Sam or Robbie Rogers. But Conroy tells USA Today Sports he dreams of playing Major League Baseball, although he knows it would be a challenge:

“Wherever I go next, whether that's in the MLB or with another team, I'm going to be nervous,” Conroy told USA TODAY Sports. “Every time I've come out to a team, I've been able to feel out the situation first and kind of make sure there were no outliers who would react poorly. Anywhere I go, I'm going to have a reputation as a gay player because I've made national news. I'll have to be more prepared on my first day.”

Conroy says he came out to his teammates shortly after joining the Stompers this summer, as a matter of respect. He was also out to his teammates in high school and college after coming out to his family at 16. He's surprised at how much media attention he's gotten, and he didn't realize he was the first openly gay professional player. He also says he's heard plenty of homophobic locker room talk, but feels his presence changes the way other players think:

“People think twice about it when they know there's a gay guy on the team,” Conroy said. “They'll apologize or say, ‘sorry, not in that way.' It's a teaching point in some regards. I would say that my teammates have grown up with the equality side of things, but it's different when none of them have had that gay teammate interaction. The face to face meeting is so much different than what you see on the news.”

Conroy says he feels lucky to have had so much support from the Stompers. Shockingly, he earns only $650 a month on average and stays with host families during the season:

“I just love playing baseball,” Conroy said. “It's my first year out of college. I'm trying to have a career at the highest level. If I ever get that chance, I'll be ready.”

Topics: Coming Out, Sports, towleroad More Posts About: Gay Athletes, Major League Baseball, Sean Conroy, Sonoma Stompers

Related Posts
  • How Athletes Who Are Allies Are Responding to Pride Month Backlash
  • Trump Rages Over Report Cleveland’s Baseball Team Will Drop ‘Indians’ from Name
  • Longtime Fox Sports Broadcaster Suspended for Gay Slur on Hot Mic: ‘One of the Fag Capitals of the World’ (WATCH)
  • Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

    Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Mel B will “always be open” when it comes to her sexuality. The Spice Girls singer, 48, who reunited with her bandmates including the group's ex-singer Victoria Beckham for the fashion …Read More »
  • Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

    Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Megan Thee Stallion is being sued for allegedly creating a hostile work environment and forcing her cameraman to watch her having lesbian sex. The 29-year-old ‘Savage' rapper faces the salacious claims …Read More »
  • Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

    Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Jonathan Bennett's life was “changed forever” by his role in ‘Mean Girls'. The 42-year-old actor starred as heartthrob Aaron Samuels in the 2004 cult classic – which followed Lindsay Lohan, Rachel …Read More »
  • Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

    Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass a gift basket after he came out as gay. The 44-year-old NSYNC star revealed the legendary singer showed his support when Lance decided to reveal …Read More »
Previous Post: « This Madonna-Inspired Safer Sex PSA ‘Bitch I’m a Condom’ Will Have You Reaching for a Rubber: VIDEO
Next Post: NASA Releases First Full Image of Earth Since 1972, Discovers World Hasn’t Been Destroyed By Gay Marriage »

Primary Sidebar

Most Recent

  • Sophia Bush’s girlfriend ‘proud’ the actress has opened up about coming out as queer

    Sophia Bush’s girlfriend ‘proud’ the actress has opened up about coming out as queer

  • Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

    Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

  • Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

    Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

  • Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

    Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

  • Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

    Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

  • Relationship status influences heterosexual women’s sexual prejudice towards lesbians

    Relationship status influences heterosexual women’s sexual prejudice towards lesbians

  • JoJo Siwa had a challenge transitioning to new grown-up image

    JoJo Siwa had a challenge transitioning to new grown-up image

  • Liz Hurley defends lesbian sex scene in new movie that was directed by her son

    Liz Hurley defends lesbian sex scene in new movie that was directed by her son

Partner Links

  • OMG, WATCH: Google’s Veo 3 turns the “Distracted Boyfriend” meme to life in new AI video
    Google‘s Veo 3 has summoned the fires of Hell, wasted oceans-full […]
  • Two-time Tony winner Donna Murphy publicly support LuPone-bashed Audra McDonald and Kecia Lewis
    I’m a tremendous Patti LuPone fan as readers of this blog […]
  • On the Rag, Vol. 859
     This week's rag 'n' mag roundup features Vlad Parker, Ashley Parker, David […]
  • OMG, WATCH: Charli xcx wants a Final Destination series with ‘It Girls’
    @charlixcx just a thought.. ♬ original sound – Charli XCX Charli […]
  • OMG, new music: Lorde releases video for ‘Man Of The Year’
    The second single from the forthcoming album is “an offering from […]

Most Commented

Social

Twitter @tlrd | Facebook | Instagram @tlrd

About

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy
[towleroadmr] [towleroadtn]

Footer

Ptown Hacks 2018

Read

  • Travel
  • Film
  • Law – LGBT Rights
  • Columns
  • Specials

About

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 · Log in

×
×