ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Professional athletes around the country have been reacting to the guilty verdict against former cop Derek Chauvin, charged with murder and manslaughter for killing George Floyd. St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Jack Flaherty gave his take on the conviction to MLB Network on Wednesday.
The 25-year-old ace has been outspoken when it comes to similar incidents in previous press conferences, actions on the field and on social media.
"It was a lot of sense of relief," Flaherty says of the verdict. "It was a lot of thank goodness that they got this one right."
He says the verdict "flew under the radar" for his teammates, who were preparing to face the Washington Nationals last night. But Flaherty says it was a shared feeling of "relief" in the clubhouse as the decision came out.
"My mom texted me and said, hopefully the families involved can find a little sense of peace with it, just with the decision that was made," Flaherty says.
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He also quoted baseball legend Jackie Robinson to explain why he feels it's important to be vocal about these social issues saying, "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other people's lives."
After the fatal shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin of Jacob Blake, a Black man, who was shot seven times in the back by police last August, Flaherty boycotted a Cardinals game with then teammate Dexter Fowler.
After Chauvin was found guilty on Tuesday, Flaherty tweeted two emojis: a closed fist and a black heart.
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