MLB makes quick ruling on Taylor Trammell illegal bat controversy

The Yankees were right that the bat Taylor Trammell doubled with for the Astros in Thursday’s Yankees victory did not meet MLB regulations. However, unlike other controversies involving the Astros, there will be no repercussions following the bat’s removal from the game, according to a source, since it was ruled Trammell did not gain an advantage from the bat.

According to MLB guidelines, any two-color bat must be divided into two sections, one of each color. And that transition must occur at the 18-inch mark from the knob.

During Trammell’s at-bat in the bottom of the ninth against David Bednar, the Yankees noted there was “discoloration on the label” of Trammell’s bat. 

After a lengthy delay, in which crew chief Adrian Johnson spoke to the replay center in New York, the umpire handed the bat to an official authenticator and the game resumed with no other consequences. 

The bat, according to a source, was “correctly treated” in the same way an impermissible glove color or design would be and notified the player he was no longer permitted to use the bat. 

The crew chose to keep the bat and have it shipped to the MLB office.

“I don’t know if it was just natural or if it was — I don’t know and I don’t want to accuse Taylor,” Aaron Boone said after the win of the former Yankee. “I’m not saying anything untoward or whatever. We noticed it on video while we were here and we mentioned it to the league and they said, ‘No, that looks like an illegal bat.’ That was it.”