Palmetto Public Record

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Baseball player who ‘would never live in SC’ sent to Charleston RiverDogs (UPDATE)

[caption id=”attachment_2583” align=”aligncenter” width=”650”] Arizona baseball player Rob Refsnyder (Source: NCAA.com)[/caption]

A few weeks ago we told you about University of Arizona outfielder Rob Refsnyder, who accused South Carolinians of being prejudiced against Asian baseball players and vowed never to live in the state.

The comment was made on Twitter shortly after Arizona beat the University of South Carolina in the College World Series. At the time, we couldn’t help but pointing out how the Asian-American baseball player’s home state isn’t exactly rolling out the welcome mat for foreigners either — but the irony of Refsnyder’s comment runs much deeper.

Refsnyder had recently been drafted by the New York Yankees, so we noted that it would be the epitome of poetic justice if the minor league farm team he was sent to was the Charleston RiverDogs. And wouldn’t you know it? According to the Charleston Post & Courier’s Gene Sapakoff, that’s exactly where he’ll play.

Isn’t life just perfect sometimes?
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UPDATE: Refsnyder seems to have changed his opinion of South Carolinians since karma sent him to Charleston, according to Sapakoff:

“As soon as I landed in Charleston, people have been nothing but great,” the former University of Arizona right fielder said at Riley Park, where the RiverDogs were preparing to face the Asheville Tourists in a Class A South Atlantic League game.

“Generalizing the whole state was foolish on my part, just immature,” he said. “(But) I never apologized for the things I said because there were some pretty cruel and evil things said out there throughout my College World Series experience.”

Refsnyder said ESPN probably overplayed the sweet story of his adoption and his tight bond with his parents, particularly his mother Jane. “It kind of took away from the game and the players, I thought,” Refsnyder said. “(But) I think some (South Carolina) fans took advantage of that. It was just a little out of the context of sportsmanship. A couple guys wearing South Carolina shirts and hats got escorted out by security, but I should not have generalized. I know how much pride people take in this state.”

We’re genuinely glad no one seems to be hating on Refsnyder because of his race, though we would probably understand if someone gave him a hard time for being kind of a dick.

Filed under SC politics tumblrize immigration Rob Refsnyder University of South Carolina

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