Reds pitcher Graham Ashcraft told to remove wedding ring under glove as MLB begins enforcing rule
Cincinnati Reds rookie Graham Ashcraft wore a look of disbelief when first-base umpire John Tumpane told him to remove his wedding ring during his foreign substance inspection in the first inning of Saturday’s start against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Ashcraft was sporting a black silicone ring on his left hand, his glove hand.
“He goes, ‘you have to take your ring off,’ ” said Ashcraft, who had his ring back on his left hand in his postgame press conference. “I was like, ‘no, why do I have to take my ring off? I shouldn’t have to.’ Apparently, it’s some new rule they came up with yesterday.”
It’s not a new rule, but it is something that umpires are now enforcing. According to rule 6.02(c)(7) in the MLB rulebook, “may not attach anything to either hand, any finger or either wrist.” Umpires determine if it should be considered a foreign substance, “but in no case may the pitcher be allowed to pitch with such attachment to his hand, finger or wrist.”
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