Reds Pitcher Ashcraft Told to Remove Wedding Band During Foreign Substance Check
Reds pitcher Graham Ashcraft was educated of a freshly enforced MLB rule in the course of a confusing scene early in Saturday’s property matchup from the Brewers.
As the proper-hander exited the mound right after the major of the 1st inning, Ashcraft was stopped by initial-base umpire John Tumpane for a routine international compound check out. As Tumpane examined the pitcher’s hands, he noticed a silicone wedding day band on Ashcraft’s glove hand, and immediately questioned him to get rid of it.
Ashcraft, who married his fiancée Emily in January 2021, could be seen asking Tumpane, “Since when?” as he continued his walk to the dugout. The 24-12 months-outdated didn’t go away the band considerably powering, nevertheless, as he finished the contest with it looped around his necklace.
After the video game, the bewildered pitcher described his conversation with Tumpane to the media.
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“The initial base umpire arrives up, checks my suitable hand as typical. Then he asks me to get my glove off and noticed my ring. He goes, ‘You have to acquire your ring off,’” Ashcraft stated, per The Athletic. “I was like, ’No, why do I have to take my ring off? I should not have to.’ Then seemingly it’s some new rule they arrived up with yesterday.”
In accordance to the MLB rulebook, pitchers “may not attach something to both hand, any finger or either wrist (e.g., Band-Assist, tape, Tremendous Glue, bracelet, and so on.)” below any conditions. Although the coverage by itself is not new, Reds supervisor David Bell later told reporters he not too long ago obtained a memo about the rule which umpires began implementing league-vast as of Friday.
“Thankfully practically nothing terrible took place,” Bell claimed after admitting he could’ve carried out a much better job of imposing the rule. “It was good that they just warned him and built him aware of it.”
Ashcraft, in his sixth commence of the year, pitched five innings in the Reds’ 7-3 reduction, notching 4 strikeouts and surrendering 6 gained runs on eight hits.
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