Just when Major League Baseball was ready to move on from the Astros cheating scandal, sleuthing baseball fans seemingly uncovered a new layer to the saga.
A series of tweets and videos alleged that Astros players — specifically, Jose Altuve, Josh Reddick and Alex Bregman — were using wearable electronic devices or buzzers to relay the opposing team’s signs during the 2019 season.
This move would have been a significant development from the brazen and out-in-the-open act of beating up a trash can. When a video showed Altuve instructing his teammates not to rip off his jersey after a pennant-winning home run, Altuve explained the moment in October as him being shy — despite numerous instances to the contrary. Fans are now connecting that moment to the buzzer accusation.
And word spread quickly in baseball circles. Big-league players immediately took notice to the new allegations, and they weren’t happy.
Altuve’s agent, Scott Boras, issued a statement to Sports Illustrated, denying the allegations:
“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. 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.”
MLB also claimed that its investigators looked into the prospect of electronic devices, but could not come up with evidence. It may be worth another try.
