Chicago Cubs reliever Luke Little had to switch his glove before entering Wednesday night’s 4-3 victory against the Houston Astros due to an American flag patch.
In the seventh inning, Manager Craig Counsell made a move to bring in Little with one out. However, when the 6-foot-8 left-hander went through the standard check by umpires for incoming pitchers, he was informed that he needed to change his glove.
According to Counsell, the problem arose from the American flag that was on the pitcher’s glove. He explained that there are strict rules regarding pitchers’ gloves, specifically about not having any white color on them. The flag on the glove was deemed potentially distracting to the hitter.
As Little stepped onto the mound to prepare for his ninth game of the season and 16th of his career, a clubhouse attendant hurriedly went to his locker to fetch a new glove. The first one he brought had an American flag patch, so he quickly returned to get another one that hadn’t been broken in yet.
“I had to give it a few taps, trying to get it to loosen up,” Little explained. “It’s quite a peculiar situation, having to break in a glove during a game.”
Little, a 23-year-old native of North Carolina, mentioned that he has been using the same glove since his time in Class A baseball. Once the problem was sorted out, he proceeded to retire both of the batters he faced.
After securing the win, Little took to X to express his pride as an American and support for the Cubs. He shared a post that included an American flag emoji and a GIF of Hulk Hogan rocking out on a guitar in front of the Stars and Stripes.
“I was informed by the club officials that I received an email from MLB stating that I am not permitted to don my patriotic headband,” he explained to the AP. “However, I never anticipated that they would simply release me. After all, it’s not as though the headband provides any advantage during the game or obstructs the vision of the opposing batters. It’s merely a symbol of my pride for my country.”
“It was a complete disaster. I had to prepare and throw without it.”
MLB was contacted for comment late Wednesday night.
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