New York Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen has apologized for directing a slur once commonly used to denigrate people of Asian descent at a clubhouse translator.

According to a The Wall Street Journal report, a reporter was speaking with Daisuke Matsuzaka's Asian American interpreter in the clubhouse Monday when Warthen approached.

During the ensuing conversation, the pitching coach reportedly apologized to the interpreter, Jeff Cutler, for previously using the word in a joking manner.

Warthen further aggravated some as he used the slur again when apologizing.