# Current openly gay MLB players? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [September 13, 2021, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-openly-gay-mlb-players/950588 "2021-09-13T06:05:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2021, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-openly-gay-mlb-players/950588/1 "2021-09-13T06:05:57Z")
Are they any current openly gay Major League Baseball players? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2021, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-openly-gay-mlb-players/950588/2 "2021-09-13T11:52:58Z")
The answer is no. In fact, I’m pretty sure none were openly gay during their careers. A few have come out after their careers. But not really the same. Baseball seems to be doing better and is probably ready for an openly gay player, but being the first will be tough. If they were fortunate, a small group could come out at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2021, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-openly-gay-mlb-players/950588/3 "2021-09-13T18:19:45Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > …a small group could come out at the same time. Or a couple. 👨‍❤️‍👨 ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2021, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-openly-gay-mlb-players/950588/4 "2021-09-13T18:26:14Z")
Besides Carl Nassib in the NFL, I’m having trouble thinking of anyone who’s come out in the major sports. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2021, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-openly-gay-mlb-players/950588/5 "2021-09-13T18:30:12Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Or a couple. 👨‍❤️‍👨 That’s a different story. If two players find love or even just have a physical attraction, more power to you, I’m happy for you. But I imagine if players get romantically involved that might make things awkward, especially as players get traded and have to separate. Imagine if they are competing against each other in a game! “Sorry I hit you with that pitch honey!” Then again, maybe it _wouldn’t_ be a big deal. I think that would be interesting to see. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2021, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-openly-gay-mlb-players/950588/6 "2021-09-13T18:43:38Z")
Jason Collins, NBA player (now retired): > **[NBA: Barrier-breaking Collins still awaits next openly gay athlete](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-basketball-nba-collins/nba-barrier-breaking-collins-still-awaits-next-openly-gay-athlete-idUSKCN1QH21F)** > > Jason Collins made history in 2013 when he became the first openly gay athlete in one of the four major North American professional sports leagues and the former NBA player wishes more men would follow the trail he helped blaze. Of course, in women’s sports, it’s common. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2021, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-openly-gay-mlb-players/950588/7 "2021-09-13T21:20:41Z")
Bad idea for any business. Most romance ends in break up and break ups bring bitter feelings. In most business one partner can quit. Thats not possible in professional sport where players play under contract. And the same harassment rules work for both traditional and same sex couples so messing around with non players can be a minefield too. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2021, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-openly-gay-mlb-players/950588/8 "2021-09-13T21:26:27Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Besides Carl Nassib in the NFL, I’m having trouble thinking of anyone who’s come out in the major sports. Depends on what you consider a major sport, I guess. In MLS, former player Robbie Rodgers came out as gay in 2013 - technically he was ‘retired’ at the time, but the Galaxy signed him after. And Colin Martin of Minnesota United is openly gay. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2021, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-openly-gay-mlb-players/950588/9 "2021-09-13T22:04:23Z")
How soon they forget. [Michael Sam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Sam) was the 2013 SEC Defensive Player of the Year at Missouri. The Rams drafted him in the seventh round, which got a lot of attention, but he got cut in training camp. He did go on to play one year with the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2021, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-openly-gay-mlb-players/950588/10 "2021-09-13T22:13:19Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > Depends on what you consider a major sport, I guess. In MLS, former player Robbie Rodgers came out as gay in 2013 - technically he was ‘retired’ at the time, but the Galaxy signed him after. And Colin Martin of Minnesota United is openly gay. Yeah, I’d say MLS counts. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2021, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-openly-gay-mlb-players/950588/11 "2021-09-14T00:06:39Z")
19 year old NHL prospect [Luke Prokop](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/predators/2021/07/19/luke-prokop-nashvile-prospect-nhl-first-openly-gay-player/8012881002/) is openly gay. He hasn’t played in the NHL yet but likely will this upcoming season. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2021, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-openly-gay-mlb-players/950588/12 "2021-09-14T01:36:53Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Besides Carl Nassib in the NFL, I’m having trouble thinking of anyone who’s come out in the major sports. There are a fair number of openly gay female athletes in the [WNBA](https://www.outsports.com/2018/7/23/17594314/wnba-all-star-gay-lgbt-elena-delle-donne-candace-parker), and on the [U.S. Women’s National (Soccer) Team.](https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/lesbian-visibility-women-s-world-cup-has-impact-far-field-n1026741) That said, women’s sports in the U.S. seem to have been more accepting of homosexuality than men’s sports have. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2021, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-openly-gay-mlb-players/950588/13 "2021-09-14T02:35:40Z")
So, as far as the original question is concerned, the answer is still zero? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2021, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-openly-gay-mlb-players/950588/14 "2021-09-14T05:13:51Z")
I believe that’s correct. This 2020 article indicates that, as @What_Exit noted earlier, there’s been very few (in fact, only two) MLB players who came out as gay, and both only did so after retiring: Glenn Burke, who played in the '70s, and Billy Bean, who played in the '80s and '90s. Burke was apparently open with his teammates, though he was publicly closeted during his playing career. > **[The only MLB team with players who have come out as gay](https://www.outsports.com/2020/10/20/21524730/celebrating-lgbtq-sports-history-mlb-dodgers-gay-billy-bean-glenn-burke)** > > Every day in October we’re looking back at the athletes, coaches and events that made LGBTQ sports history. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2021, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-openly-gay-mlb-players/950588/15 "2021-09-14T06:01:54Z")
My first cousin once removed was a closeted gay MLB umpire in the '80s. Does that count for anything? > **[Dave Pallone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Pallone)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > David Michael Pallone (born October 5, 1951) is an American former Major League Baseball umpire who worked in the National League from 1979 to 1988. During Pallone's career, he wore uniform number 26. > Pallone umpired his first game at the age of 19 in the New York–Penn League in May 1971. He remained in the league for the 1972 season before being promoted to the Carolina League for the 1973 season. He spent half a season there before again being...