Former Giants Minor-League Pitcher Comes Out As Gay, 2nd In League

VICTORVILLE, CA — Minor-league baseball player Solomon Bates on Tuesday came out as gay in an Instagram post, becoming only the second minor leaguer to do so.

No major-league player has ever come out as gay during their playing career, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. The first minor-leaguer to come out was Milwaukee Brewers organization player David Denson, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Bates was released by the San Francisco Giants organization earlier this week, according to Sports Illustrated.

"Being gay in this sport you don't know what comes at you," Bates wrote on Instagram. "I'm still going to open up doors for gay athletes like me. Still will strive to be one of the greatest to do it."

Bates said he is not done with baseball yet.

"Gay men can play a manly sport if you give us a chance to. Thank you giants, you guys made a new fan," Bates said in the Instagram post. "But gave me a chip to keep going. I love all the new friends that I've made. I'm not going to cry. I'm going to keep pushing."