WEEI radio play-by-play man Will Flemming apologized Monday for comments made during Sunday’s broadcast, when he said Boston Red Sox pitcher Jovani Morán should “drill” New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells with a pitch and start a fight with second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr.

“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,” Flemming wrote on X. “I’m emotional and a fan at heart and that bled into the broadcast.”

He added that he “meant no disrespect” to the Yankees.

“These rivalry games get me fired up; I apologize for letting the emotion of the moment get the best of me,” he wrote.

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.

— Will Flemming (@WillFlemming) August 31, 2026

Flemming’s charged comments during the Yankees’ 16-1 trouncing of the Red Sox on Sunday went viral on social media, drawing outrage from fans. They came after Chisholm stole a pair of bases with New York up six runs in the eighth inning of the finale of the four-game series. Later in the inning, Chisholm trotted slowly home after Wells homered off Morán.

“And Morán should fight Chisholm,” Flemming said at the time, describing Morán walking toward third base and staring at Chisholm.

Moments earlier — with Wells still at the plate and the Yankees leading, 7-1 — Flemming and color analyst Will Middlebrooks vented about Chisholm stealing second and third. Morán began the inning by walking Chisholm, and after Chisholm stole third, Flemming suggested Morán should throw at Wells as retaliation against the Yankees.

“Wouldn’t you sort of like to see Morán drill Wells right here?” Flemming mused.

Flemming also called Chisholm a “bush league player.”

“I’m going to say it,” Flemming said later in the inning, “he plays the game the wrong way.”

Flemming’s apology did not seem to resonate with a pair of prominent people with Yankees ties, who made their feelings known about the broadcaster’s mea culpa, even though they did not use words.

Replying to an Instagram post relaying Flemming’s apology, Yankees ace Cam Schlittler used his verified account to post a clown emoji. On the same post by the Talkin’ Yanks account, Hall of Famer CC Sabathia followed with an emoji response of his own: a raised middle finger.

On Monday afternoon, YES Network play-by-play broadcaster Michael Kay offered a new twist to the saga. During his radio show on ESPN, Kay said he had spoken with Yankees manager Aaron Boone, who told him he had instructed Chisholm to steal both bases because of Boston’s infield defensive alignment.

According to Kay, when the Red Sox decided not to hold Chisholm at first base, Boone said he shouted to Chad Tracy, Boston’s interim manager, telling him that he was going to send Chisholm if the Red Sox weren’t going to hold him.

Kay added that Boone said he wanted Chisholm to try to score because the six-run gulf wasn’t large enough. Kay said Boone told him that it wasn’t impossible to imagine a scenario in which the Red Sox would chip away at the Yankees’ lead and Boone would need to use closer David Bednar in the ninth inning.

Flemming joined WEEI in 2019. Before that, he handled play-by-play for Boston’s Triple-A affiliate. His brother, Dave Flemming, is the play-by-play voice for the San Francisco Giants. Audacy, which owns WEEI, did not return a request for comment. The Red Sox directed a reporter to Flemming’s statement on X.

Tensions were already high Sunday, as Flemming and Middlebrooks discussed a controversial call in the fifth inning that didn’t go Boston’s way.

Red Sox center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela believed he made a diving catch on a Chisholm line drive to center field, only for the umpiring crew to rule otherwise. The call stood after a replay challenge. What could have been a double play instead led to a five-run inning.

“I did not even have to watch it. I know I made the catch,” a visibly frustrated Rafaela told reporters postgame. “I know when a ball drops and a ball doesn’t drop. And I know I made the catch.”

Flemming called the replay review “ridiculous,” and he questioned if the MLB Replay Command Center “had its head on straight.” He continued to revisit the play throughout the broadcast and it was the subject of discussion shortly before Flemming launched into his critique of Chisholm.

— Jen McCaffrey contributed to this report.