Houston Astros Allegedly Used An Earpiece And A Bullpen Catcher To Relay Stolen Signals To Batters During 2017 World Series

We’re beginning to learn more about the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal and things aren’t looking good for the team.

Earlier this week the Athletic released a bombshell report that included revelations from former Astros players who claim the team spent the 2017 season stealing signs at home games with the help of a camera placed in the outfield.

Via The Athletic

“That’s not playing the game the right way,” said Fiers, who was with the team from 2015-17 and was non-tendered in the offseason after the Astros won the 2017 World Series. “They were advanced and willing to go above and beyond to win.”

Three other sources who were inside the organization in 2017 and had direct knowledge of the scheme discussed its existence on the condition of anonymity.

The Astros’ set-up required technical video knowledge and required the direct aid of at least some on the baseball operations staff, team sources said.

Former Chicago White Sox pitcher Danny Farquhar was interviewed by the Athletic and recalled that during an outing in 2017 against the Astros he heard banging noises coming from the Astros dugout every time he threw a changeup.

There was a banging from the dugout, almost like a bat hitting the bat rack every time a changeup signal got put down,” said Farquhar, who is now the pitching coach with the White Sox’s High-A affiliate in Winston-Salem, N.C. “After the third one, I stepped off. I was throwing some really good changeups and they were getting fouled off. After the third bang, I stepped off.”

Jomboy Media’s Jimmy O’Brien checked the tape of the 2017 game between the Astros and White Sox described in the Athletic piece and the video appears to support Farquhar’s claim that the Astros were stealing his signs.

According to former MLB player Trevor Plouffe the Astros used an earpiece and a bullpen catcher to relay stolen signals they collected via video to the batter when the crowd noise was too loud.

The Astros and the MLB have opened an investigation into allegations made by the Athletic and we should learn more about their findings in the near future.