Red Sox All-Star Jarren Duran is BANNED after being caught on a hot mic calling a fan a 'f***ing f*****'

Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran has been handed a two-game ban after he was heard heard directing a homophobic slur towards a fan during Sunday's defeat to the Houston Astros. 

Duran, who was named to his first MLB All-Star team last month, was caught on a hot mic shouting to the heckling spectator at Fenway Park: 'Shut up you f***ing f*****'.

One day on from the incident, Major League Baseball announced that the 27-year-old has been hit with a two-game unpaid suspension, with his salary from the affected fixtures to be donated to LGBTQ+ group the Federation of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays organization.

Before receiving the suspension Duran issued an apology through the Red Sox, admitting he failed as a role model for young supporters. 

He said in a statement on Sunday: 'During tonight's game, I used a truly horrific word when responding to a fan. I feel awful knowing how many people I offended and disappointed.

'I apologize to the entire Red Sox organization, but more importantly to the entire LGBTQ community. Our young fans are supposed to be able to look up to me as a role model, but tonight I fell far short of that responsibility.

'I will use this opportunity to educate myself and my teammates and grow as a person.'

Although the audio wasn't entirely clear, the heckler appeared to have been taunting Duran by telling him he needed a tennis racket to hit Astros starter Hunter Brown.

The fan may well have been right, as the Red Sox star ended up striking out three times on the day.

The NESN booth either did not hear Duran's homophobic slur or simply ignored it, with play-by-play announcer Dave O'Brien simply saying to the audience: 'Duran is at .296 with runners in scoring position for the year.' 

Duran, who is one of Boston's top hitters this year with a .291 average and 14 homers, was honored before the game with the team's Heart and Hustle award.