The bat Major League Baseball confiscated from Taylor Trammell is against league rules, but the Houston Astros outfielder won’t face any additional discipline for the lumber.
A day after umpires confiscated the at the behest of New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone, Trammell said on Friday that the league told him the bat’s two-color paint scheme was in violation of the rules but since it did not provide a competitive advantage, he faces no additional punishment.
The bat was taken in the ninth inning of the Yankees’ 8-4 win in Houston after Boone asked umpires to do an examination. After delaying the game to look at the bat and discuss with Boone and Houston manager Joe Espada, plate umpire Adrian Johnson spoke with the replay office in New York, then handed the bat to a league official sitting near home plate.
According to the New York Daily News, MLB offered this explanation:
“A two-color bat must be divided into two sections, each of one solid color. The dividing point between each of the color sections must start 18 inches from the knob end of the bat, or next to the one-inch solid color ring, if applicable. …
“Upon inspecting the bat and determining the bat did not give the batter an advantage, the umpires correctly treated the bat last night like an impermissible glove color or design and told the player that he was no longer permitted to use the bat. In an abundance of caution, the crew chose to keep the bat and have it shipped to MLB’s office.”
Boone on Friday said he had no issue with the league’s decision and even said he was relieved Trammell received no further discipline.
“Frankly, that was something hard for me to do because I don’t think Taylor was up to anything. I really don’t,” Boone said. “In the moment, I felt like a duty to at least check in for my team. But, you know, I’m frankly satisfied with the ruling, the explanation.”
After the bat was given to the official at the ballpark, it was authenticated prior to being sent to the league office. Trammell (who played in five games with the Yankees last season) is unsure if he will get the bat back but is hoping he does.
“I probably would just want it, to have it just because I can have a story to tell my grandkids about it. It’s kind of a cool, funny little story,” he said. “I don’t know if they’ll give it back. They put a sticker on it so it’s authenticated at least. … So, somebody is going to have it.”
Trammell, 27, is hitting .200 with three home runs and 12 RBIs in 45 games during his first season with the Astros. He is a .176 hitter across parts of five seasons with four teams, with 18 career homers and 51 RBIs.
