Sports

New Jersey Little League Star Ignites Rules Controversy With Unsportsmanlike Taunt After Walk-Off Home Run

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Mason Rincon New Jersey Metro Little League Taunting unsportsmanlike conduct throat slash controversy
ESPN

Mason Rincon is the biggest star at the Little League World Series. However, the New Jersey slugger appeared to violate the rules of Little League by taunting his opponent after a walk-off home run during the opening round.

His behavior went unchecked by the officials.

The umpiring crew either did not notice the gesture or did not choose to issue a ruling. The Metro Little League coach, on the other hand, gave his best player (and son) a stern talking to after he touched home plate to score the winning run.

Who is Mason Rincon?

Although he is only 12 years (and eight months) old, Mason Rincon already projects as a future big leaguer. At 5-foot-9, 165 pounds, he plays catcher, first base, middle infield, outfield and pitches. He throws a 72 mph fastball with an outfield velocity of 66 mph and an exit velocity of 75 mph on his best swings. There may not be is not a better athlete at the Little League World Series.

Rincon plays for Bayonne, New Jersey, which reached Williamsport as the representative of the Metro Region. All he does is mash. (Especially when the pitcher throws him a meatball sub.)

Teams actually stopped pitching to him because he is too good at the plate. Rincon was intentionally walked on every at-bat during the regional championship, which sparked boos from the crowd, and — ultimately — backfired.

Rincon eventually came on to close things down as a pitcher and Bayonne punched its ticket to the World Series. It played its first game of the tournament on Wednesday night.

New Jersey was tied at 1-1 with Massachusetts in the bottom of the sixth inning. Little League only plays six innings. Rincon stepped into the box as the leadoff hitter for Metro and New England decided to pitch to him. Bad idea.

Mason Rincon sent an absolute moonshot deep to centerfield for the walk-off home run on a 1-1 count. Ball game.

Did he violate Little League World Series rules on taunting?

As Rincon ran the bases between second and third, he held both hands near his neck and swiped the hands to either side. He was looking at the Massachusetts dugout when he did it the first time. And then he did it again after rounding third. It was direct.

I personally think it was more like Vince Carter’s famous “it’s over” hand gesture. Others saw it as a throat slash.

You be the judge. Here is the play in real time, as it aired live on ESPN:

Here is another angle:

Regardless of whether it was a throat slash or otherwise, Bayonne’s coach (who is also Mason Rincon’s father) gave him a stern talking to and told him to act like he had been there before.

The umpiring crew did not penalize Rincon for his gesture. However, Little League rules strictly prohibit unsportsmanlike conduct. Violations include (but are not limited to) verbal abuse, taunting, malicious contact, or sign stealing. Under Rule 9.01(d), umpires hold the authority to issue immediate warnings for unsportsmanlike noise or taunting. If the behavior continues after the warning, the umpire can eject the offending player, coach or fan from the game.

Throat slash or not, players are not allowed to gesture toward an opposing dugout in a mocking manner. Rincon could’ve been penalized for his behavior. The umpires did not see or let it go. Was it the right decision? Let us know in the comments below!