BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – APRIL 13: A view of the Milwaukee Brewers logo on a bag on the field before the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 13, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
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The Milwaukee Brewers have won their last two series in a row as they look to build momentum for another playoff push. But before that can begin in earnest, the team had to deal with a controversial punishment for one of its star players.
After reliever Abner Uribe made a lewd gesture on the mound against the St. Louis Cardinals, Major League Baseball issued him a one-game punishment and several members of the organization, including manager Pat Murphy, condemned the pitcher’s decision.
Milwaukee Brewers’ Abner Uribe Criticized For Lewd Gesture
Among those weighing in was former former Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy, who commented on how Uribe’s gesture reflects on the entire team.
“This is what happens when you don’t have veteran leadership in clubhouse,” posted on X, formerly Twitter, last week. “Some people think it’s funny, I think it’s (expletive). If he was my teammate, he and I would have a major issue. Kids come to these games and emulate us. That is a responsibility we must uphold to the highest standard.”
As a two-time All-Star during his tenure in Milwaukee, Lucroy’s criticism drew attention from some fans. And the former backstop returned to social media to clarify his intentions and express regret for the comment.
“Being a distraction to the team is the last thing I want to be,” Lucroy wrote in a follow-up apology post. “I want nothing but success and championships for this team, city, and the Brewers organization.”
Milwaukee Brewers’ Former Star Backstop Turns Heads With Abner Uribe Comments
Lucroy’s comments carry additional weight because of his standing within Brewers history. During a seven-year run with Milwaukee, he developed into one of the franchise’s most accomplished catchers and a respected clubhouse presence.
Across a 12-year MLB career, Lucroy appeared in more than 1,200 games, earned All-Star selections in 2014 and 2016, and finished his career with a .274 batting average, 108 home runs and 548 RBIs.
His best season came in 2014 for the Brewers, when he hit .301 with 13 home runs and 69 RBIs while finishing fourth in National League MVP voting.
While Lucroy felt strongly enough about the Brewers’ situation to offer his opinion on Uribe, his follow-up statement suggests he did not intend for the discussion to become a larger story. Instead, the former catcher emphasized his continued support for the organization and his desire to see the franchise succeed.
For a player who remains popular among many Milwaukee fans, the apology likely shifted some attention back toward the club’s pursuit of a postseason berth rather than an off-field debate surrounding a surprising gesture from its star reliever.