Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve has reportedly denied using an electronic device as part of the club’s sign-stealing scandal, according to Joel Sherman of The New York Post.
Sherman reached out to the star infielder’s agent, Scott Boras, on Thursday after rumours emerged on social media alleging that Altuve and other Astros players sported small, electronic buzzers under their uniforms to signal them about certain pitches.
Boras also responded to video circulating on the Internet that appeared to show Altuve indicating to his teammates not to rip off his jersey as he was about to get mobbed at home plate following his walk-off, ALCS-clinching home run in Game 6 that sent to the Astros to the 2017 World Series.
Boras reportedly said Altuve didn’t want his jersey removed due to his “shyness.”
The MLB said Thursday that it looked into the allegations as part of its probe of the Astros’ sign-stealing tactics.
“MLB explored wearable devices during the investigation, but found no evidence to substantiate it,” the commissioner’s office said in a statement.
The league initially opened its probe after former Astros pitcher Mike Fiers revealed that Houston players used a camera to steal signs in 2017, when they went on to win the World Series over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The investigation found that the Astros used a video feed from centre field to catch opposing catchers’ signs and relayed the information to their players by banging a trash can.
Earlier Thursday, New York Mets manager Carlos Beltran — who retired from playing after winning the championship with the Astros in 2017 — became the most recent participant to face consequences for his involvement in the scandal, as his tenure with the club came to an end before he even spent a single game on the bench.
The news came two days after the Boston Red Sox severed ties with manager Alex Cora, who was the Astros’ bench coach in 2017.
And a day prior, Astros manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow were fired by Houston. They had already been suspended for the 2020 season by the MLB.
With files from The Associated Press.
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