Taylor Trammell's Bat Reportedly Ruled Illegal by MLB, Astros CF Didn't Gain Advantage

Houston Astros outfielder Taylor Trammell's bat, which was confiscated during his team's 8-4 loss at the New York Yankees on Thursday, was technically illegal, per a Major League Baseball ruling relayed by Chris Kirschner of The Athletic on Friday.

However, MLB also ruled that the bat didn't give Trammell a competitive advantage. In addition, MLB treated the situation as if it were "an impermissible glove color or design and told the player that he was no longer permitted to use the bat," per an MLB source to Kirschner.

In the bottom of the ninth inning with a runner on first and no out, Trammell hit a ninth-inning double. Afterward, Yankee manager Aaron Boone spoke with the umpires and asked them to check the bat.

It's not unprecedented for bats to be checked, such as for cork or too much pine tar. This seemed to be a colorization issue pertaining to MLB rules, though. Kirschner spoke more on the matter.

"MLB's bat supplier regulations, shared with The Athletic, state that a two-color bat must be divided into two sections, each of one solid color. The dividing point between each of the color sections must start 18 inches from the knob end of the bat, or next to the 1-inch solid color ring, if applicable. Multi-colored bats are only permitted if the color transition occurs at the 18-inch mark from the knob."

In Trammell's case, he had discoloration on his bat barrel, and that led to Boone asking for a check.

The situation ended up being much ado about nothing, as Trammell was allowed to stay in the game. The Astros scored one more run and even put the tying run at the plate with one out, but Yankees closer David Bednar struck out the next two batters to end the game.

Boone was asked about the bat after the game, and he provided his perspective.

"The discoloration was on the label, like. I don't know if it was just natural or if it was sand ... I don't know. I don't want to accuse Taylor. I'm not saying anything untoward or whatever," Boone said (conversation begins at the 34-second mark below).

Trammell, who played five games for the Yankees last season, understandably did not take kindly to the bat check.

"My biggest problem is, I feel kind of defensive right now, more so (it is) testing my character of, like, I'm going to willingly do that," Trammell said Thursday (h/t Kirschner). "I'm kind of lost on that thing. I think if anybody knows me, knows that I'm never going to cheat any turns or anything like that. I have no idea. That's baffling to me that it was even checked. They didn't like it. Sorry."

In addition, Trammell said he used the bat for a "long time," and it's a bat he used this year when he played for Triple-A Sugar Land. Trammell notably played 10 games for Sugar Land this year.

The 27-year-old Trammell has played five MLB seasons, and this is his first with Houston after three with the Seattle Mariners and one with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Yankees. In 44 games this year, Trammell has hit .208 (.670 OPS) with three home runs and 12 RBI.

As for the series, the Yankees won two of three matchups against the rival Astros to move to three games behind the Toronto Blue Jays for the AL East lead. Houston still has a lead in the AL West by 3.5 games over the Seattle Mariners.