The Cincinnati Reds faced off against the Washington Nationals on Wednesday in a game that featured an extremely bizarre interaction between the umpires in the game and Reds star shortstop Elly De La Cruz.
De La Cruz came to the plate to lead off the top of the second inning, but was instantly greeted by home-plate umpire Quinn Wolcott.
Wolcott was asked by Nationals’ manager Dave Martinez to check the legality of De La Cruz’s bat, specifically the knob end of the bat. Every umpire came over to examine the bat, and it was ultimately determined that the bat could not be used due to the larger-than-usual knob end of the bat.
Nationals manager Dave Martinez has umpires check Reds star Elly De La Cruz to make sure the knob end of his bat is legal. pic.twitter.com/Gd3jiEa3lk
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) July 6, 2023
The Reds broadcaster team detailed that De La Cruz has been using this style of bat throughout his young MLB career, which makes this random check in this at-bat pretty bizarre. Even more confusing is that he was later actually allowed to put the knob end back on the bat.
He would get out in that first at-bat, but he ultimately got the last laugh against both the Nationals and the umpires in the game.
De La Cruz stepped back up to the plate for the third time in the bottom of the sixth inning, crushing a 455-foot home run with a 111.6 MPH exit velocity.
111.6 MPH
455 FEETELLY DE LA CRUZ IS GOOD AT BASEBALL pic.twitter.com/OV9D3jzccx
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) July 6, 2023
The new bat clearly didn’t bother him, and he made sure to let Quinn Wolcott know about it. After crushing the moonshot home run, he hilariously gestured back to the home-plate umpire to check his bat again.
In De La Cruz’s third at-bat of the game, he crushes a 455-foot home run and tells home plate umpire Quinn Wolcott to check his bat again…💀pic.twitter.com/viJtKOthXY
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) July 6, 2023
Fans took notice of the gesture and thought that it was absolutely hilarious.
In the 2nd inning, the Nats had the umpires check Elly De La Cruz’s bat to make sure it was legal
In the 5th inning he homered and told them to check it again@StoolBaseball pic.twitter.com/FhrHpwsd74
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) July 6, 2023
Elly De La Cruz is saving baseball.
In the 2nd inning, the Nationals had the umpires check his bat to make sure it was legal…
Then he hit a bomb in the 5th inning and this was his reaction 👀pic.twitter.com/3wpzGkfj6I
— Bussin' With The Boys (@BussinWTB) July 6, 2023
YOU KNEW IT WAS COMING 😂😂😂
Elly De La Cruz hits a MOONBOMB in response to questions about his bat earlier!!! pic.twitter.com/O8KHFs7aqW
— ATBBTTR (@ATBBTTR) July 6, 2023
Nats had the umpires check Elly De La Cruz’s bat to make sure it was legal, in the 5th inning he homered and told them to check it again 💀 pic.twitter.com/45qGkmCTMA
— Calico Joe (@CalicoJoeMLB) July 6, 2023
Elly De La Cruz has soooooo much swag.
I still can’t believe he is a Cincinnati Red. #Reds
— Reds Daily (@RedsDaily4) July 6, 2023
It clearly doesn’t matter what kind of bat Elly De La Cruz has, he is simply crushing baseballs with ease at the moment.
