ST. LOUIS (AP) – The St. Louis Cardinals say they’re taking allegations that a gay minor-league pitcher abandoned baseball because of homophobia “very seriously.” Tyler Dunnington was drafted by the Cardinals in 2014 and told Outsports.com in a report published Wednesday that he heard derogatory comments from college coaches and later unidentified teammates in the pros. He said “each comment felt like a knife to my heart.”

General manager John Mozeliak told The Associated Press in a statement that he’s “very disappointed” and would speak with MLB’s ambassador for inclusion for guidance.  Dunnington spent most of the summer of 2014 with the Cardinals’ rookie-level affiliate in Florida and says two teammates “mentioned ways to kill gay people.” He says he felt uncomfortable revealing his sexual orientation and retired before spring training a year ago.