Seattle Mariners Catcher, Steve Clevenger, is apologizing for controversial racially charged tweets.

Clevenger posted the tweets in the wake of two black men being killed at the hands of the police. One of the men was killed in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The other was killed in Charlotte, North Carolina. In the wake of the killings, there were mass riots in Charlotte.

“Everyone involved should be locked behind bars like animals!” tweeted Clevenger in part. His account has since been set to private.

“First and foremost I would like to apologize to the Seattle Mariners, my teammates, my family and the fans of our great game for the distraction my tweets on my personal twitter page caused when they went public earlier today,” read a statement by Clevenger.

“[My tweets were] worded beyond poorly at best and I can see how and why someone could read into my tweets far more deeply than how I actually feel,” explained Clevenger. “I grew up on the streets of Baltimore, a city I love to this very day. I grew up in a very culturally diverse area of America and I am very proud to come from there. I am also proud that my inner circle of friends has never been defined by race but by the content of their character. Any former teammate or anyone who has met me can attest to this and I pride myself on not being a judgemental person. I just ask that the public not judge me because of an ill worded tweet.”