Cubs’ Little told to change glove over white in flag patch

CHICAGO — Cubs reliever Luke Little stated he had to change his glove earlier than he entered Wednesday night time’s 4-3 victory over the Houston Astros due to an American flag patch.

Manager Craig Counsell went to insert Little with one out in the seventh inning. But because the 6-foot-8 left-hander went by the standard verify by umpires for pitchers coming into the sport, he was told he had to swap out his glove.

“The issue was the American flag was on his glove,” Counsell stated. “Pitchers’ gloves, they’re pretty strict about not having white on the pitchers’ gloves. Apparently the flag had what could be a distraction to the hitter.”

As Little went to the mound to heat up for his ninth look of the season and No. 16 for his profession, a clubhouse attendant went to his locker to discover a substitute. The first glove he introduced to Little additionally had an American flag patch, so he went again to get one other one — which hadn’t been damaged in.

“I had to beat it a little bit, try and get it flexed out,” Little stated. “Of all the things to do is breaking in a glove during a game.”

The 23-year-old Little, a North Carolina native, stated he has been utilizing the identical glove since Class A ball. After the difficulty was resolved, he retired every of the 2 batters he confronted.

Following the victory, Little posted “Proud to be an American … Go Cubs Go” on social media, together with a flag emoji and a GIF of wrestler Hulk Hogan taking part in a guitar in entrance of an American flag.

“The clubbies told me that they had got an email from MLB that I’m not allowed to wear it,” he told the AP. “But I just didn’t assume that they were just going to just cut me. It’s not like it has an advantage in the game. It’s not like it blinds the hitters. Just representing my country.

“Just an entire debacle. Got to prepare with out it and throw by it.”

A message was left late Wednesday night time in search of remark from MLB.