New York Yankees shortstop José Caballero has expressed frustration with Major League Baseball's sudden enforcement of a rule targeting his pre-pitch routine, which he has employed since before the pitch clock was introduced in the major leagues in 2023. The dispute escalated during a doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday, when umpires issued Caballero a pitch-clock violation for the same behavior he has regularly used without penalty.

Caballero’s routine involves delaying eye contact with the pitcher until there are eight or nine seconds left on the pitch clock. This technique is intended to force pitchers to remain engaged and deliver pitches within the allotted time, while also pressuring and sometimes unsettling the opposing pitcher. The rule requiring batters to make eye contact with pitchers with at least eight seconds on the clock was designed to prevent quick pitches and ensure prepared at-bats.

Despite this, MLB instructed the umpires at Wednesday’s game to strictly enforce a regulation that prohibits batters from attempting “to deceive a pitcher into beginning their windup or coming to the set position.” That directive came after a confrontation earlier in the week between Caballero and Pirates pitcher Dennis Santana, which resulted in arguments and the clearing of dugouts.

During the sixth inning of the Wednesday opener, Caballero was penalized for his usual routine, provoking protests on the field, the ejection of Yankees hitting coach James Rowson, and ultimately contributing to a strikeout in a game the Yankees lost. Afterward, Caballero denied any intention to deceive pitchers, emphasizing that his actions are consistent and not intended to trick anyone.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone described the league’s decision to enforce the rule without prior warning as “embarrassing.” Umpires reported they had been directed by MLB officials not to issue warnings but to enforce violations immediately, citing that Caballero had been “warned all season” about his behavior. Crew chief Adrian Johnson confirmed the shift in enforcement, while home plate umpire Quinn Wolcott noted that no other hitter takes the amount of time in the batter’s box while avoiding eye contact with pitchers as Caballero does.

During the game, on-field microphones captured Caballero telling umpires they were “picking on me,” an accusation he has now extended to the league’s broader handling of the situation. On social media, Caballero criticized MLB for changing rules without accountability and making players conform without input, writing that the league “will do and undo whenever and however they want and everyone else has to be silent and obey.” The dispute highlights the challenges MLB faces in balancing rule enforcement with players’ established habits amid ongoing adjustments to the pitch clock era.