The Toronto Blue Jays are investigating why shortstop Yunel Escobar played Saturday's game against the Boston Red Sox with a homophobic slur written on his eye black, after a photo of him was posted online.

The words under the 29-year-old Cuban's eyes were "TU ERE MARICON," which can be translated as "You are a fa---t."

Jays season ticket holder James Greenhalgh took the photo of Escobar. Greenhalgh sits near the dugout and often takes photos of players that he later posts to his Flickr account.

Underneath the photo, Greenhalgh wrote (in part):

"I have been conflicted about posting this picture since last night," he wrote. "I have a privileged seat near the Blue Jays dugout and allows me a close up of some pretty awesome moments. This one, however, is really disappointing."

"I like Yunel a lot, he's the one who pays me the most notice when I'm at the games," wrote Greenhalgh. "He points to his fans, tips his cap and recognizes the support he is given. This was a mistake I hope he learns and he will never make again."

Most people on Twitter expressed disbelief and condemned Escobar, although some fans said the outrage was overblown.

The Blue Jays released an official statement about the controversy.

On Tuesday morning, the idea that Escobar was the victim of a prank started to gain some steam.