Milwaukee Brewers minor leaguer David Denson has come out as gay, the Associated Press reports. This makes him the first player affiliated with Major League Baseball to come out while still active in the MLB.
Denson, who plays first base for a Brewers rookie affiliate team based in Helena, Mont., reached out to The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel to share his story publicly.
The 20-year-old told the Journal Sentinel that the support he received from his teammates gave him the strength to go forward with the announcement:
"That was a giant relief for me," Denson said. "I never wanted to feel like I was forcing it on them. It just happened. The outcome was amazing. It was nice to know my teammates see me for who I am, not my sexuality."
Denson also sought out former pro baseball player and MLB Ambassador for Inclusion Billy Bean as a mentor figure in this process. Bean came out as gay in 1999, four years after he stopped playing in the league.
The Milwaukee Brewers have released a statement on Twitter commending Denson for his courage in making this decision. They promise to "continue to support him" as they "develop him into a Major League player."
Bad at filling out bios seeks same.