During Saturday night’s matchup between the New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves, the focus shifted from the scoreboard to a tense confrontation involving Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s sign relaying. The Yankees secured a 12-9 victory, but the spotlight fell on Chisholm Jr., who was seen relaying pitching signs from second base—a method allowed under MLB rules as long as no electronic devices are used. Braves assistant coach Eddie Perez strongly objected to this tactic, sparking a heated verbal exchange that has prompted an official MLB investigation.
The incident occurred in the sixth inning when Anthony Volpe hit a sacrifice fly after Chisholm signaled a fastball to his teammates. Perez reacted aggressively from the Braves dugout, gesturing toward Chisholm and pointing at his head, a gesture widely interpreted as a warning that Chisholm might be intentionally targeted by a pitch later in the game. Chisholm responded defiantly by telling Perez to “cry about it” before the game continued.
Details of the Confrontation Between Eddie Perez and Jazz Chisholm Jr.
As cameras captured the moment, Perez’s actions appeared threatening, igniting a wave of discussion among fans and commentators. Yankees broadcasters Michael Kay and Joe Girardi suggested Perez’s gesture was a veiled threat. The incident exemplifies the rising tension between teams regarding the boundaries of sign communication during games.
“Jazz Chisholm Jr. was jawing with Braves coach Eddie Perez Yankees broadcasters Michael Kay and Joe Girardi believe Perez was threatening to have Jazz hit in the head pic.twitter.com/Se7KU4tY5U” —Jomboy Media
Yankees’ Recent History With Sign Relaying Raises Questions
This is not the first occasion in recent weeks where the Yankees have been scrutinized for relay tactics. Earlier, Cody Bellinger was spotted signaling Austin Wells about an incoming slider from Andres Munoz during a game against the Seattle Mariners. The growing attention to these exchanges has fueled debates over what is considered fair play in MLB sign communication.
Yankees Manager Aaron Boone Addresses Sign Relaying Controversy
In response to the uproar, Yankees manager Aaron Boone defended the use of sign relaying as a strategic element embraced by many teams, provided it adheres to the league’s guidelines. Boone emphasized that teams continuously seek small competitive edges throughout the season.
“Look, every team now, from the start of the year to the end, you’re trying to find little advantages out there,”
Boone explained.
“Every team we play against is no different, and we’re not, either. You’re constantly trying to find advantages where you can and where they present themselves in a certain game, and that’s all good.”
MLB’s Pending Decision and Upcoming Games
The league is currently reviewing the incident involving Perez’s conduct and has not yet announced any disciplinary actions. Meanwhile, the Yankees concluded the series with a 4-2 win on Sunday and are preparing to face the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday, where the tension surrounding the Jazz Chisholm Jr. sign relaying episode may still linger.
The outcome of this league review could set important precedents for how sign relaying is managed and policed across Major League Baseball moving forward.