There’s nothing against the rules—or even considered unsportsmanlike—about a runner at second base relaying signs to the hitter, as long as it’s done through observation and not technology. If a team picks up on a pitcher’s tendencies or cracks a catcher’s signs, they’re allowed to use that knowledge. But considering how much people love to hate the Yankees, it’s no surprise they’re drawing heat for how things unfolded in the seventh inning against Wandy Peralta on Tuesday.
Peralta, a former Yankee from 2021 to 2023, may not have realized just how readable he had become. His return to the mound started badly, walking in a run with the bases loaded on pitches that weren’t particularly close.
As the inning spiraled out of control—eventually turning into a 10-run outburst—some suspected the Yankees had picked up on Peralta’s pitch grips. One fan on Twitter pointed out that Cody Bellinger, standing on second, appeared to be signaling to Austin Wells at the plate. Wells responded by smashing a grand slam, pushing the Yankees to a commanding 12-3 lead and ending Peralta’s night.
While the age of PitchCom makes it much harder to intercept signs, there’s no indication anything underhanded happened here—certainly not “eavesdropping on PitchCom,” as some wildly speculated online. It’s more plausible that the Yankees, familiar with Peralta’s mechanics from his time in New York, spotted something in his grip or delivery and capitalized.
Of course, recognizing a pitch is only part of the equation—you still have to make contact. And Peralta’s lack of control did him no favors. The meltdown allowed the Yankees to flip the script: the Padres hadn’t lost a game all season when leading after seven innings—until now.
The Yankees kept the momentum going, overcoming a 3-1 deficit in the eighth and winning the game in extra innings, sealing the comeback and possibly the series thanks to some sharp eyes and sharper swings.
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