Chicago Cubs pitcher Luke Little mentioned that he had to switch his glove before he joined the game against the Houston Astros on Wednesday night because of an American flag patch.
Manager Craig Counsell planned to bring Little into the game in the seventh inning. However, when the 6-foot-8 left-hander underwent the standard check by umpires for pitchers entering the game, he was informed that he needed to change his glove.
“The issue was the American flag was on his glove,” Counsell explained. “Pitchers’ gloves, they’re pretty strict about not having white on the pitchers’ gloves. Apparently, the flag had what could be a distraction to the hitter.”
As Little warmed up on the mound for his ninth appearance of the season and 16th of his career, a clubhouse attendant searched for a replacement glove. The first glove brought to Little also had an American flag patch, so another glove was retrieved, although it wasn’t broken in.
“I had to beat it a little bit, try and get it flexed out,” Little said. “Of all the things to do is breaking in a glove during a game.”
The 23-year-old Little, originally from North Carolina, had been using the same glove since his time in Class A ball. After the glove issue was resolved, he successfully retired both batters he faced.
After the game, Little expressed his patriotism by posting “Proud to be an American … Go Cubs Go” on X, formerly known as Twitter, along with a flag emoji and a GIF of wrestler Hulk Hogan playing a guitar in front of an American flag.
“The clubbies told me that they had got an email from MLB that I’m not allowed to wear it,” he told the AP. “But I just didn’t assume that they were just going to just cut me. It’s not like it has an advantage in the game. It’s not like it blinds the hitters. Just representing my country.
