MLB Investigating Kevin Pillar for Uttering Homophobic Slur at Braves' Jason Motte

Major League Baseball is investigating Blue Jays center fielder Kevin Pillar for uttering a homophobic slur toward Atlanta Braves pitcher Jason Motte during Wednesday's game in Atlanta, according to multiple reports.

Pillar was captured on camera mouthing what appeared to be the word "faggot" to Motte after he struck out to end the seventh inning in a heated contest Toronto lost 8-4.

Pillar was upset that Motte quick-pitched him for the inning-ending strikeout. Motte took exception and started to confront Pillar before home-plate umpire Brian O'Nora stepped in to intervene.

"It was immature, it was stupid, it was uncalled for," Pillar told reporters after the game without acknowledging what he actually said to the veteran pitcher.

"(Quick pitches) are part of the game, it's just, I'm a competitive guy and heat of the moment. Obviously I'm going to do whatever I've got to do to reach out and apologize and let him know he didn't do anything wrong, it was all me. Obviously something to learn from, something to move on from. Don't let it define me, but really I think it was just frustration from coming off a really good homestand and really just not even being in any of these ball games, just coming out flat and not being able to build on what we were able to build (versus) Seattle. That just all came out in that moment."

Pillar's ill-advised language came an inning before Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista admired an eighth-inning homer with a bat flip, which caused the benches to clear for the second time on the night.

Toronto GM Ross Atkins is traveling to Atlanta as a result of the incident, and the organization is said to be taking the matter seriously.

The Blue Jays have been involved in a somewhat similar situation before involving former shortstop Yunel Escobar in 2012, which the league could look to as potential precedent, as Sportsnet's Shi Davidi wrote. In that case, Escobar inscribed his eye black with a derogatory term that in English translated to a homophobic slur. He was handed a three-game suspension and donated his lost salary to You Can Play, an organization that supports LGBTQ athletes.

Players from both the NHL and NBA have been punished for the use of homophobic slurs before, including Lakers star Kobe Bryant, who was fined $100,000 in 2011 for directing one at a referee.

Tensions are sure to be high and under the watch of MLB when the Braves look to make it four in a row over the Blue Jays in Atlanta on Thursday night.

UPDATE at 2:25 PM:

Pillar issued the following apology in a tweet on Thursday afternoon:

The Blue Jays released the following statement shortly after Pillar's apology:

UPDATE No. 2 at 4:40 PM

It was announced late Thursday afternoon that the Blue Jays suspended Pillar for two games. The decision was in consultation with MLB and the players' union, Atkins told reporters. The salary that Pillar forfeits as a result of the ban will be donated, likely to an LGBTQ group, although specifics are still being worked out.