Yankees' Cano finally gets apology over PED tweet

New York Yankees' Robinson Cano watches his third-inning, two-run home run off Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka during their baseball game at Yankee Stadium in New York, Oct. 3, 2012. / AP Photo/Kathy Willens

NEW YORK A North Carolina television reporter who falsely reported that New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano had tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs has formally apologized, CBS New York reported.

Dan Tordjman of WSOC in Charlotte tweeted on his personal account last month "Can't confirm this but I'm hearing that Robinson Cano tested positive for PEDs. Announcement from MLB coming shortly."

That set off a firestorm of speculation and ultimately a wild goose chase among New York's beat reporters before the rumors were swatted down by Cano and Major League Baseball.

On Thursday, Tordjman issued an official mea culpa in a series of tweets:

On 9/20 I tweeted I expected #MLB to announce @robinsoncano tested positive for PEDs. This information was FALSE. (cont'd)

-- Dan Tordjman (@DanTordjman) October 4, 2012

I, @coxmediagroup, and @wsoc_tv all apologize to Mr. #Cano, and to the #Yankees and their fans. (cont'd)

-- Dan Tordjman (@DanTordjman) October 4, 2012

I shouldn't have posted false info about #Cano, and afterward, I should've admitted it was false and apologized right away. I am very sorry.

-- Dan Tordjman (@DanTordjman) October 4, 2012

"This young man clearly underestimated the power of his Twitter account," WFAN's Sweeny Murti wrote on CBS New York on Sept. 21. "Nowadays there is a difference between a guy in the local tavern saying he thinks a player is taking steroids and the same guy writing that in a social media platform, especially when that person is actually employed by a journalistic organization."

The station also issued an on-air apology Thursday: "This information was incorrect. ... While WSOC was not involved in posting the tweet, the station wishes to apologize to Mr. Cano and any Yankee baseball fan for any embarrassment or any inconvenience that the tweet may have caused."

Tordjman will make a donation to the Robinson Cano Foundation as part of his apology, the New York Daily News reported.

"When journalists and media outlets act unprofessionally and negligently and submit false statements about a fine person and great player, we're happy that the apology was issued," Scott Boras, Cano's agent, told the paper.

Ironically, Cano had been mired in a slump for roughly three weeks leading up to the baseless allegation, batting .230 since Aug. 28. Since Tordjman's tweet, Cano hit .416 and enters the playoffs as one of baseball's hottest hitters.