New York Yankees shortstop Jose Caballero (pictured) frustrated pitcher Dennis Santana during a win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday in New York. File Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI | License Photo
New York Yankees shortstop Jose Caballero triggered a benches-clearing scuffle with the Pittsburgh Pirates through manipulation of MLB’s pitch clock.
Caballero, known for his gamesmanship with the device, was involved in the sequence in the bottom of the eighth inning of the 8-5 triumph Monday in New York. The veteran infielder grounded into a double play to end the exchange with pitcher Dennis Santana.
“He was chirping at me,” Caballero told reporters, when asked about the exchange with Santana at Yankee Stadium. “I was a little surprised about it.”
The Yankees held their three-run lead to start the half inning. Third baseman Ryan McMahon started the bottom of the frame with a fly out to left fielder Bryan Reynolds. Catcher Austin Wells singled to right field four pitches later.
Caballero then settled in against Santana. The Yankees infielder fell down 0-2 in the count before smacking an 85.4-mph slider back to Santana for the inning-ending double play.
Caballero forced an umpire warning on Santana during the exchange due to his manipulation of the pitch clock, which was implemented in 2023. The rules stipulate that batters must be inside the box and “alert to the pitcher” by the time eight seconds remain on the clock — which is set at 18 seconds with runners on base and 15 seconds with bases empty.
Umpires generally determine alertness when the batter looks at the pitcher, allowing them to start their delivery motions. If pitchers start their motion too early, they are given a warning or violation, resulting in a ball for the batter or sometimes prompting a balk for the pitcher.
Caballero often waits until the very last moment of the eight second mark to look at the pitcher, an attempt to disrupt timing for delivery.
Santana blew a kiss after his eighth-inning exchange with Caballero. He also pointed to his eyes, a likely reference to Caballero’s ploy of not looking at pitchers until late in his at-bats.
Caballero shrugged back at the pitcher in response to his gesture. Both benches cleared and players met in the infield, but they eventually separated and the game resumed.
Yankees pitcher Fernando Cruz retired the Pirates in order in the top of the ninth to secure the win.
Santana allowed one hit and no runs in his lone inning of work. Caballero went 2 for 4 with a two-run double. Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. went 2 for 4 with two home runs and five RBIs. Wells also recorded two hits in the victory.
“At this point it’s been four years with the same rule,” Caballero said. “We all should know about the rules. The whole league should know who I am, what I do in the box. They should be aware of it. For you to get mad at something the league has implemented in this league?
“You shouldn’t be mad at me. You should be made at someone else.”
The Yankees are among the league-leading benefactors from pitch clock infractions. The Pirates are among the teams with the fewest infractions. Yankees opponents committed 15 pitch clock infractions, the second most in MLB this season. Caballero drew two batter timer infractions so far in 2026, which is tied for the second most in MLB.
“It’s just part of my routine,” Caballero said. “If you get frustrated, I’m winning. For me, it’s a battle in the box and I’m trying to win the battle. If you are not concentrating 100%, I think I’m winning. It’s a rule that has been out there for four years now.
“If you are not used to it, you should practice.”
Santana told reporters he is “not used to” batters taking so long to prepare for his pitches. He said the tactic frustrated him during the outing.
“It’s nothing against him,” Santana said. “It’s just a game. I got caught up in the game.”
The Yankees (56-44) won five of their last eight games, including their last two. They sit in second place in the American League East, 1.5 games behind the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays (57-42). They are 4.5 games in front of the rival Boston Red Sox (51-48), who are on an MLB-best 14-game winning streak and sit in third place in the division.
The Yankees will host the Pirates (52-49) again at 7:05 p.m. EDT Tuesday in New York.
