“Take your ring off”: Umpire asks Graham Ashcraft to abolish his wedding ring

Rookie Graham Ashcraft, Cincinnati Reds’ pitcher was astonishing by the existence of the rule being enforced upon him while he took his foreign substances inspection. First-base umpire John Tumpane told him to remove his wedding ring in the first inning of Saturday’s start against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Graham Ashcraft was dawning a black silicone ring on his left hand, his glove hand. He was asked to exit the field, upon being asked, he also said that there is no rule related to this as of now, but the umpires have started enforcing the particular policy on Friday.

According to rule 6.02(c)(7) in the MLB rulebook, “may not attach anything to either hand, any finger or either wrist.” Umpires determine if it should be considered a foreign substance, “but in no case may the pitcher be allowed to pitch with such attachment to his hand, finger or wrist.”

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Graham Ashcraft, Reds’ starter, asked to pitch his wedding ring right out of the diamond

“He goes, ‘you have to take your ring off,’” said Rookie Graham Ashcraft, who had his ring back on his left hand in his postgame press conference. “I was like, ‘no, why do I have to take my ring off? I shouldn’t have to.’ Apparently, it’s some new rule they came up with yesterday.”

When Graham Ashcraft returned to the Cincinnati Reds‘ dugout, upon being asked to. he chatted with manager David Bell, who remembered receiving a memo that the rule would be enforced this week by the umpires. Graham Ashcraft moved his silicone wedding ring to his necklace chain for the remainder of his start.

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“I actually did get a memo about it,” Manager David Bell said. “I knew I had. I hadn’t read it super close, so as soon as Graham came off the field, we went and double-checked and there is a rule. They just reminded us recently. I don’t know if it was a new one or a reminder.”

Graham went five innings in Saturday’s 7-3 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, giving up six earned runs on eight hits. The 24-year-old has a 3.51 ERA and 1.17 WHIP through six starts this season.

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