Milwaukee Brewers minor leaguer David Denson is now the first openly gay active player on a team affiliated with Major League Baseball.
Denson, with the help of former major leaguer Billy Bean, broke the news to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
The 20-year-old first baseman plays for the Helena Brewers in the rookie Pioneer League.
“Talking with my teammates, they gave me the confidence I needed, coming out to them,” Denson told the newspaper.
“They said, ‘You’re still our teammate. You’re still our brother. We kind of had an idea, but your sexuality has nothing to do with your ability. You’re still a ballplayer at the end of the day. We don’t treat you any different. We’ve got your back.’
“That was a giant relief for me. 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 was selected by the Brewers in the 15th round in 2013 after playing for South Hills High School in West Covina, Calif.
H/T: New York Post