Reds analyst Chris Welsh offers apology over Ozzie Albies comments

Cincinnati Reds television analyst Chris Welsh caused an internet firestorm Wednesday night when he said this about Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies:

“It’s funny, I’ve read a lot about it, and I’ve read opinions on both sides. A lot of people are blaming the agent for letting him sign a deal like that. But Albies came from a very poor background, he’s from Curaçao, and when somebody offers you 35 million dollars – I mean, he may not know the difference between 35 million dollars and 85 million dollars. It’s going to have a tremendous positive effect on his family and himself. Maybe the people in his immediate family or extended family. It changes the lives of so many people.”

Albies signed a seven-year, $35 million contract on April 11. It was widely considered to be team friendly.

Sites like deadspin.com and awfulannouncing.com jumped on the story. 

Welsh spoke to Albies Thursday afternoon. He chose to keep the conversation private. 

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“I’m going to say something on the air tonight, and that’s the only thing I’m going to say," Welsh said. "After that, if someone wants to talk more about it, they can talk among themselves. I didn’t say it on the internet. I said it on the air. I’m going to say something on the air. I’ll explain what Ozzie and I talked about, where we are, and where I am as far as learning something from this.” 

Welsh opened Thursday's Fox Sports Ohio pregame show with this apology:

"I used some words last night that are just not very good choices for words. In fact, they were uninformed and they were wrong. And when I went back home later on last night and I looked at them online, it was embarrassing for me. I hardly slept at all. And it's been bothering me. So the first thing I did when I got to the ballpark today – I went down to the Braves' clubhouse. I sought out Ozzie Albies. We had a conversation. I apologized to him and his family for the remarks that I made. I apologize to all of the viewers out there who watch Reds baseball. Not like me to say something like that. In 27 years, it's never happened before. Will not happen again. And we're ready to move on."

"This is a good man right here. Well done. Well done. And I know you meant that very much from the heart," play-by-play man Thom Brennaman added.