Blue Jays Closer Ken Giles Says He'd Give Back Astros World Series Ring if MLB Asked Him to
By Sean Facey
![Ken Giles is willing to give back his World Series ring. Ken Giles is willing to give back his World Series ring.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/Baltimore-Orioles-v-Toronto-Blue-Jays-ae1bbdba9662f82b0d653137a26011f4.jpg)
At last, there's one former Houston Astros player who sounds truly guilty for the team's sins. And this one's a pretty big surprise.
Toronto Blue Jays closer Ken Giles, who served as the Astros' closer during much of the World Series run in 2017, said he'd gladly give up the championship ring.
If baseball wants to take away his 2017 World Series ring from his run with the Astros, Blue Jay Ken Giles says they can have it.
— Toronto Star (@TorontoStar) February 29, 2020
“Whatever they ask, I would oblige. Because what was going on at the time was not OK.” #StarExclusive @RDiManno: https://t.co/CIPK50UzNa
"It just hurts," he said of the revelation of the cheating scandal. "If they want it back, I'll be true to whatever needs to be done."
Giles also maintained that he "was not aware about anything" as far as the cheating system was concerned, and that he was genuinely shocked when everything was unearthed by the final report from the commissioner's office.
Derek Jeter calls the Astros cheating scandal a "black eye for the sport."
— Yahoo Sports MLB (@MLByahoosports) February 25, 2020
(via @FOXMarlins)pic.twitter.com/uXAUjFiK6J
While none of this changes the fact that the Astros cheated, it's nonetheless refreshing to see at least one former player show genuine remorse for what happened. He owned up to the scandal and admitted that it was wrong despite having no role in it.
The players who were actually involved in the scandal should take notes on what Giles had to say. Perhaps then opposing pitchers and fans will start to take it a little bit easier on them.