Blue Jays: Gregg Zaun fired for inappropriate behaviour

Former player turned television analyst, Gregg Zaun, has been fired by Sportsnet after allegations of inappropriate workplace behaviour surfaced on Thursday.

It’s been an interesting world in the entertainment business lately, with many stars being held accountable for inappropriate behaviour in the past, and the present. Whether it’s actors, television hosts, politicians, or more, it’s a time in history when this type of behaviour will no longer be tolerated.

Unfortunately for the Toronto Blue Jays organization, they’ve now got their own black mark when it comes to this recent issue. On Thursday, it was announced that Gregg Zaun has been dismissed from Rogers Media, citing inappropriate workplace behaviour as the reason, after several female employees brought forth complaints about Zaun.

More from Jays Journal

• Matt Chapman has been exactly what the Blue Jays needed
• Blue Jays: The goalposts are moving in the right direction
• Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays advance to the Championship Series
• Blue Jays: Comparisons for Alek Manoah’s Second Season
• Blue Jays: Adam Cimber, the unlikely decision King

To their credit, they’ve acted swiftly, and dismissed the accused without hesitation.

Zaun spent five seasons as a catcher for the Blue Jays, donning the jersey from 2004-2008. He began working in the broadcast booth before he had even retired, offering thoughts during the playoffs starting in 2006, and signing a contract with Sportsnet after he retired following the 2010 season.

With regards to Thursday’s news, we don’t know a lot of the details just yet, but Rogers has already put out a press release addressing the matter, and I’m sure we’ll learn more in the coming days.

The following letter was written by Rick Brace, who is the President of Rogers Media. It reads as follows:

"This week, we received complaints from multiple female employees at Sportsnet regarding inappropriate behaviour and comments by Gregg Zaun in the workplace. After investigating the matter, we decided to terminate his contract, effective immediately.This type of behaviour completely contradicts our standards and our core values. We must all be held to the same standard- regardless of our position, our contributions, and our status.We believe in a professional workplace where all employees feel comfortable and respected. We believe in a culture where our employees share their feedback openly and honestly.We are grateful to the employees who spoke with us and we will take every measure to protect their privacy.If you have concerns related to inappropriate behaviour of any kind, I encourage you to talk to your PR Manager, HR business partner, or phone our anonymous hotline.thank you for your ongoing support and commitment.Rick"

It’s an unfortunate situation to be sure, but once again I have to tip my hat to Rogers Media for handling this promptly, protecting those who were brave enough to come forward, and without making any excuses for the perpetrator. If Zaun is guilty (and it sounds like the case is pretty stacked against him), then he has no business working for the organization in any capacity, or anywhere in baseball.

Next: Blue Jays get it right with Halladay ceremony at home opener