UPDATE: Kilgore spoke with Houchins this afternoon. “Whether people think it or not, I’m not racist,” Houchins told the reporter. “I’m not a bigot. I’ve had a black guy live with me for four years. My closest friends literally are all black. I’m sorry it was out there for everybody to read. That’s just how me and my friends talk, including my black friends.” Houchins also admitted that he was “nervous” the offensive tweets may have convinced the Nationals to decline signing him to a contract.

Professional athletes and Twitter: some of them get it, others don’t. We can go ahead and place recent Washington Nationals draft pick Zach Houchins in the latter category.

Adam Kilgore reported early this morning that the Nationals are investigating racially-charged comments Houchins made via Twitter over the last few months. Houchins’ account was deleted late last night, but For Love of the Nationals screencapped a few choice Houchins tweets. A few are revoltingly vulgar. (Don’t say we didn’t warn you.)

The Nationals drafted Houchins, an infielder who last played at North Carolina’s Louisburg Junior College, in the 15th round this year.

“Gotta watch what I say up here,” read one of Houchins’ last tweets before his account was deleted. Whoops.