The New York Yankees may have won another series in Houston, but they left there unhappy about Taylor Trammell’s bat.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone spoke up about the controversy surrounding the Houston Astros outfielder’s bat, which was removed from New York’s 8-4 win after it flagged the piece of equipment with umpires.
Boone, who was ejected from the Yankees’ 8-7 loss to the Astros after taking issue with home-plate umpire Brian Walsh’s strike zone, brought up the fact Trammell’s bat appeared to have been shaved down after he doubled off David Bednar in the bottom of the ninth inning.
The bat was removed from the game for investigation, but Trammell remained and scored on Yordan Alvarez’s RBI single later that inning.
What Did The Yankees Say About Taylor Trammell’s Bat?
YES Network cameras offered good looks at Trammell’s bat, which did appear to shaved, though what advantage could be gained from that is uncertain.
âItâs just something we noticed this series and asked the league about,â Boone said. âYouâre not allowed to do anything to your bat. Iâm not saying he was. We noticed it, and the league thought maybe it was illegal, too. I wanted to at least ask about it.â
Trammell, who spent 2024 with the Yankees before he was traded to Houston in November, said he had used the bat his entire tenure with the Astros. But Boone flagged it immediate after his sharp double off Bednar — though not during his pinch-hit at-bat when he struck out against reliever Luke Weaver.
âI donât know if it was just natural. I donât know. I donât want to accuse Taylor. Iâm not saying anything untoward,â Boone said. âWe noticed it, though, on video while we were here, and we actually mentioned it to the league, and they said, âNo, that looks like an illegal bat.â That was it.â
What Did The Astros Say About Taylor Trammell’s Bat?
According to Chandler Rome of The Athletic, Trammell was taken aback by the fact his bat was removed from the game.
âTo be honest, I have no idea how you shave down a bat. I donât know what it is,â said Trammell.
âMy biggest problem is, I feel kind of defensive right now, more so [this is] testing my character of, like, Iâm going to willingly do that,” Trammell continued. “Iâm kind of lost on that thing. I think if anybody knows me, knows that Iâm never going to cheat any turns or anything like that. I have no idea. Thatâs baffling to me that it was even checked. They didnât like it. Sorry.â
Trammell is slashing .208/.314/.356 in 44 games this year, and his double was only his ninth extra-base hit of the season. His defense of the bat, which he said he has also used in Triple-A Sugar Land, was his bat was unfinished, paint-wise.
âIâve had it for a long time. Usually take BP with it,” Trammell said. “Use it in games, (used) it in (Triple-A Sugar Land), use it every time. The only thing, I just donât have a gloss finish on my bat. Itâs matte. Paint wears down. Thatâs what happens.â
Trammell was especially surprised to be accused by his former manager.
“My time over there, I had a lot of respect for Boonie. He was straight up with me,â Trammell said. âIn that situation, I really donât understand it. I donât understand it.”
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Aaron Boone Sounds Off on Astros Bat Controversy After Yankees Win appeared first on Heavy Sports.