When former Astros pitcher Mike Fiers went on the record to The Athletic that the Astros used technology to steal signs in 2017, much of the focus remained on that 2017 World Series season.
But if newly uncovered video clips are any indication, MLB will have to expand its investigation to cover seasons beyond 2017. Those same tactics described by Fiers — using an outfield camera and hitting a bat against a dugout trashcan to signal an off-speed pitch — were evident in 2018.
A recent article from The Kansas City Star looked to find examples of these sign-stealing tactics taking place during past Royals-Astros games. While the paper did point to a 2017 example that seemed to implicate newly named Mets manager Carlos Beltran (though the video had poor audio), the story’s most damning example didn’t come in 2017. It was from the 2018 season.
A clip from the June 22, 2018 matchup at Minute Maid Park showed Carlos Correa hitting a second-inning double off a changeup from pitcher Danny Duffy.
Once the Royals signaled for a changeup, that same banging noise from other clips was audible on the broadcast. Correa was sitting on that off-speed pitch and hit a double with a 98.5 mph exit velocity off the bat.
Fiers last played for the Astros in 2017, which would explain why his accusation only covered that season. But it’s plainly obvious that the Astros didn’t just stop with that one season. Those tactics carried into the following year.
