Major League Baseball umpire Doug Eddings apologized to St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Hancel Rincon after Major League Baseball informed the veteran official that he acted inappropriately by telling the rookie to straighten his tilted cap during a game against the Colorado Rockies, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal.
Eddings approached the mound in the sixth inning to address the pitcher’s uniform style, setting off a chain of events that drew national scrutiny.
The Apology and Clubhouse Reaction
Eddings sought out Rincon prior to Saturday’s game to offer a direct apology for the previous night’s confrontation, according to reports from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “He apologized for what happened [Friday] night,” Rincon stated through bullpen catcher and team interpreter Kleininger Teran, as reported by Derrick Goold. “He also told me good luck for the rest of my career as a big-leaguer.”
According to MLB.com’s Owen Perkins, the rookie told the umpire not to worry and that there were no hard feelings. Teammates rallied around the young pitcher during Saturday’s batting practice by wearing their caps crooked in open protest. Several Cardinals fans and local radio broadcaster John Rooney also turned their caps sideways in solidarity.
The Incident and Manager Ejection
The confrontation unfolded during the bottom of the sixth inning as Rincon faced Colorado hitter Cole Carrigg. Eddings called time and instructed the catcher, Leo Bernal, to tell Rincon to straighten his hat brim. Rincon had already surrendered a triple to TJ Rumfield and thrown a wild pitch that brought home the game’s first run.
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Following the stoppage, Rincon threw a fastball that Carrigg drove off the wall for an inside-the-park home run. After a subsequent single, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol rushed out of the dugout to confront Eddings and was promptly ejected. “He took it upon himself to tell our rookie pitcher, the kid’s ‘Not gonna wear his hat on my field that way,'” Marmol told reporters after Friday’s game, as cited by the New York Post. Marmol pointed out that other prominent big leaguers like Dontrelle Willis, CC Sabathia, and Pedro Strop wore tilted caps without interference, calling the umpire’s action a power-hungry move.
Contradictory Accounts on the Rulebook
Eddings defended his decision initially by claiming that Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman raised concerns about whether the cap could be worn in that fashion. The umpire admitted to reporters that Rincon was not technically violating any official Major League Baseball rules.
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Goodman strongly refuted that claim when questioned by reporters. “I never once mentioned the hat,” Goodman said, according to MLB.com’s Thomas Harding. “It doesn’t matter who’s pitching. I don’t care how they wear the hat. I’m trying to find out where the ball is coming out, and I’m trying to worry about what I’m doing in the box.”
Rookie Demotion and Roster Moves
The turbulent debut series concluded with further roster adjustments for the Cardinals. Following another difficult outing on Saturday where he allowed four runs and two hits in one inning of work, Rincon was optioned back to Triple-A Memphis on Sunday.
Left-hander Cooper Hjerpe was promoted from the minor leagues to fill the vacant roster spot. Hjerpe posted a 3.00 ERA across four levels of the organization this season, maintaining a 1.89 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 19 innings across five starts for Memphis.
Did you know? Major League Baseball rules do not explicitly prohibit pitchers from wearing caps with slightly turned brims, provided the hat does not feature reflective materials or distract hitters according to umpire discretion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did umpire Doug Eddings apologize to Hancel Rincon?
Eddings apologized after Major League Baseball informed him that his decision to police the rookie’s tilted cap during a game was inappropriate, according to reports from The Athletic.
Who was ejected during the initial argument?
St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol was ejected from Friday’s game after arguing with Eddings over the umpire’s demand that Rincon straighten his hat.
What happened to Hancel Rincon after the incident?
After pitching in two games and allowing multiple runs during his major-league call-up, the Cardinals optioned Rincon back to Triple-A Memphis.
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