Astros' Maldonado used illegal bat in Game 1 of World Series

Houston Astros catcher Martin Maldonado (15) hits an RBI single during the second inning against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1 of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park. Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Astros' Martin Maldonado used an illegal bat in Game 1 of World Series

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 10/29/22

Noted cheaters, the Houston Astros, are reportedly at it again.

According to FOX Sports' Tom Verducci, Houston catcher Martín Maldonado used an illegal bat in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night.

During the broadcast of Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday, Verducci explained that MLB advised Maldonado that the bat he used in Game 1 was illegal.

Martín Maldonado used a bat last night that Albert Pujols sent him. MLB considers it not within the rules based on the barrel size

It was grandfathered in for Pujols because he had been using it prior to 2010. Martín is back to using his bats.pic.twitter.com/WCDOQrEvEH
— Sporting News MLB (@sn_mlb) October 30, 2022

Maldonado requested the bats from St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols, as they're the same model the future Hall of Famer uses. The only problem was that the model Pujols uses is outside MLB's barrel size rules and was grandfathered into the league in 2010. Since Maldonado entered the league in 2011, using Pujols' bat was illegal.

For the record, Maldonado went 1-for-3 with an RBI in the Astros' 6-5 extra-innings loss to the Phillies in Game 1.

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