Why Red Sox broadcaster apologized for comments about Yankees' Jazz Chisholm, Austin Wells that 'crossed a line'

There haven't been many bad weekends for the Red Sox this summer, but this past weekend was a bad weekend.

With a legitimate chance to jump the Yankees in the wild-card standings and remain in the AL East race, Boston lost three of four, concluding with a 16-1 thumping by New York in Sunday's series finale.

Red Sox radio announcer Will Flemming handled the drubbing poorly, making controversial comments about both Austin Wells and Jazz Chisholm that drew backlash.

Here's a look at what Flemming said and why he apologized on Monday.

MORE: Projecting Tarik Skubal's next contract

Red Sox broadcaster apologizes for words about Jazz Chisholm and Austin Wells

Flemming advocated for the Red Sox to intentionally hit Wells with a pitch during Sunday's game as part of a tirade against Chisholm. Flemming was frustrated by Chisholm stealing two bases with the Yankees ahead by six runs in the eighth inning and made a handful of disparaging comments about the second baseman.

After claiming he received "nonstop calls and threats," Flemming tweeted an apology on Monday.

"Since I have been receiving nonstop calls and threats, I felt like it was important to hop back on here and say: My comments during yesterday's broadcast crossed a line. I'm emotional and a fan at heart and that bled into the broadcast," Flemming said. "I meant no disrespect to the Yankees players or organization. I could and should have used different words. These rivalry games get me fired up; I apologize for letting the emotion of the moment get the best of me."

I meant no disrespect to the Yankees players or organization. I could and should have used different words. These rivalry games get me fired up; I apologize for letting the emotion of the moment get the best of me.

The apology marked Flemming's first tweet since December, when he left the platform because it had become "toxic and negative" a day after he received backlash for hinting at a major Red Sox transaction that never came.

Here's a full look at what Flemming said about Chisholm and Wells.

MORE: Full timeline of Ketel Marte's trouble with the Diamondbacks

What did Will Flemming say about Jazz Chisholm and Austin Wells

"Wouldn't you sort of like to see [Jovani] Moran drill Wells right here?" Flemming said to partner Will Middlebrooks, who was the first of the duo to call out Chisholm for stealing two bases after the Red Sox stopped trying to hold him on.

Flemming went on to call Chisholm a "bush league player" and said Moran, the pitcher, should have fought the Yankees second baseman after Wells hit a 2-run home run to make it a 9-1 game.

Red Sox radio broadcaster Will Flemming says Boston's pitcher should drill Austin Wells and fight Jazz Chisholm Jr. because he thinks Chisholm is a "bush league player" that "doesn't play the game the right way" pic.twitter.com/wtXivJobxG

"I'm gonna say it, he plays the game the wrong way," Flemming said of Chisholm. 

The Yankees would add seven more runs and close out a 16-1 win to take the series.

Who is Will Flemming?

Flemming has worked for WEEI, which broadcasts Red Sox games on the radio, since 2019. He officially became the team's full-time play-by-play radio announcer in 2025, after Joe Castiglione's retirement.

Flemming's brother, Dave, calls games for the San Francisco Giants and has called both college basketball and MLB wild-card series games for ESPN.