Jonathan Papelbon apologized for choking Bryce Harper back in September of last season on Friday, and while that put that incident to rest, he almost caused another in the process.
According to the Washington Post, Papelbon almost wore a shirt that read “Obama Can’t Ban These Guns’ during his apology presser. That certainly would not have been a good look following the controversy, considering how polarizing that particular issue is, and the fact that his team plays in the nation’s capital.
https://twitter.com/chelsea_janes/status/700767674394136577?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The 35-year-old closer instead wore a “train to reign” t-shirt, which Thomas Boswell of The Washington Post says he wears frequently.
Papelbon called the incident with Harper the lowest point of his career, and you can’t really blame him. He attacked the NL MVP during the middle of a game. That’s undoubtedly going to get you into hot water every single time.
https://youtu.be/839oFnFuAY4
Papelbon is certainly a handful, but he’s also valuable when you’re able to keep him at a certain level because of his competitiveness and intensity.
At least this was one time where he actually showed some discretion.