Houston Astros catcher Martin Maldonado may have accidentally CHEATED when he “used an illegal bat” during Game 1 of the World Series sent to him by ex-Cardinals star Albert Pujols.
- Astros catcher Martin Maldonado allegedly used an illegal bat in Game 1
- He was reportedly given the bat by ex-St. Louis Cardinals star Albert Pujols
- The bat run exceeded the legal limit after the MLB rule change in 2011
- MLB notified Maldonado that he had used an illegal bat and he substituted for Game 2
- Click here for all your latest international sports news from
Houston Astros catcher Martin Maldonado reportedly used an illegal bat during Game 1 of the World Series Friday night.
Maldonado reportedly became the bat of ex-St. Louis Cardinals star Albert Pujols before the opening game of the Fall Classic.
However, the gift may have meant that Maldonado may have unknowingly cheated when he used it against the Philadelphia Phillies.
The bat run was over the maximum allowable limit after MLB enacted a rule change during the 2010-11 offseason.
The rule violation was exposed after it was revealed that Maldonado switched bats for Game 2 on Saturday night.
Tom Verducci broke the news on Fox’s coverage of Game 2 of the World Series, revealing that MLB had informed Maldonado that he had not used a legal bat in Game 1.
Martin Maldonado (right) reportedly used an illegal bat in Game 1 of the World Series
Maldonado pictured during batting practice before the opening game of the Fall Classic
“Martin Maldonado is using a different racquet here in Game 2 today,” Verducci said. “He found out from MLB today that the bat he used last night was not a legal bat.
“It was a model he received from Albert Pujols and he used it because he thought it was very similar in size and weight to his own model. The barrel, he said, was slightly larger.
“He also thought it might be a way to honor the baseball legend, who of course will retire at the end of the season, but here’s the catch, folks: In 2010, Major League Baseball changed bat specs, and this bat, the Pujols had modeled was no more unless they played before 2010 it was a grandfather.
“So Albert Pujols was able to use that racquet, but Maldonado, who started his major league career in 2011, wasn’t legally able to use that racquet.”
Maldonado reached out to Pujols before the start of the World Series and asked Pujols to send him some bats ESPN’s Buster Olney.
The Astros catcher reportedly got the bat from ex-St. Louis Cardinals star Albert Pujols
Tom Verducci revealed in the Game 2 broadcast that Maldonado used a different racquet
The couple played together with the Los Angeles Angels in 2017 and 2018, and the future Hall of Famer reportedly sent half a dozen.
MLB changed the specifications for all clubs, reducing the maximum barrel diameter from 2.75 inches, which had been the standard for more than 100 years, to 2.61 inches in 2011.
Even if Maldonado cheated, it was all for naught as the Phillies won Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night with an impressive 6-5 comeback win in extra innings.
Maldonado went 1-3 with an RBI single in the second inning that gave the Astros a 5-0 lead in the third inning before the Phillies’ rally.
The couple Pujols (left) and Maldonado played together with the Los Angeles Angels in 2017 and 2018