Speculation has swirled on social media in recent days that the Astros may have worn buzzers in 2019 that tipped them off about what pitches were coming. But Major League Baseball released a statement Thursday saying it "explored wearable devices during the investigation but found no evidence to substantiate it."
Internet rumors have suggested Houston cheated last season by using concealed devices, and a video went viral Thursday showing Jose Altuve telling his teammates not to rip off his jersey as he trotted toward home plate after hitting his walk-off homer against the Yankees to win the American League Championship Series in October.
Altuve making sure he keeps that jersey on (via r/nyyankees) pic.twitter.com/OO32FVFxTi
— Kenny Ducey (@KennyDucey) January 16, 2020MLB commissioner Rob Manfred issued a nine-page report Monday outlining the Astros' sign-stealing scheme during the 2017 World Series-winning season, in which they used a center-field camera at Minute Maid Park to zero in opposing catchers' signals and then relayed which pitch was coming to batters by watching a video monitor and beating on a trash can near their dugout.
Major League Baseball's investigation also looked into the Astros' 2018 and 2019 seasons.
Alutve's agent, Scott Boras, released a statement Thursday defending the six-time All-Star second baseman.
"Jose Altuve called me and said he wants it known that he has never, ever worn an electronic device in a major league game -- ever," Boras said. "He never received any form -- of a trigger or any information -- via an electronic product that was on his body or in his uniform. He has never worn any electronic device. Ever."
Altuve was asked by Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal why he didn't want his teammates to tear off his jersey after his ALCS Game 6 home run. He answered, laughing: "I don't know. I'm too shy. Last time they did that, I got in trouble with my wife."
The sign-stealing scandal has resulted in one-year suspensions and the firings of Astros manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow. The team was fined $5 million and stripped of its first- and second-round draft picks in 2020 and 2021.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora, a bench coach on the 2017 Astros, and Mets manager Carlos Beltran, a player on that team, have also lost their jobs. Cora's 2018 Red Sox are also the subject of a separate sign-stealing investigation, and he is likely to be suspended by Major League Baseball after that probe is completed. MLB, however, elected not to discipline any of the players involved.
The Astros eliminated the Yankees in the ALCS in both 2017 and 2019. The Red Sox beat the Yankees in a 2018 AL divisional series.
