TORONTO – Major League Baseball is checking reports that Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Yunel Escobar played Saturday’s game against Boston wearing eye-black displaying a homophobic slur written in Spanish.

Pictures posted online show Escobar with the message written in his eye-black, a sticker players wear under their eyes to reduce glare from the sun. The slur did not appear to be directed at any person in particular.

MLB spokesman Pat Courtney confirmed the commissioner’s office is looking into the reports.

The team said Escobar will be available to the media this afternoon at Yankee Stadium along with general manager Alex Anthopoulos, manager John Farrell and coach Luis Rivera.

Former player, league official dies

Tom Saffell, a former major league outfielder and longtime Gulf Coast Rookie League president, has died. He was 91. Saffell spent parts of four seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Kansas City Athletics, hitting .238 with six homers and 40 RBI in 271 games. He was president of the Gulf Coast Rookie League from 1979 to 2009.