Cardinals Rookie Criticized for Standing Too Close to Batter’s Box

A’s announcer Dallas Braden criticized Cardinals rookie JJ Wetherholt for standing too close to the plate while waiting in the batter’s box during the ninth inning of a game Thursday. Braden, a former pitcher, made the comments as Victor Scott II batted with the team leading 4-3, a runner on first and one out.

An overhead camera shot showed Wetherholt positioned noticeably in the grass area near the plate, and a zoomed shot from the third-base line placed him directly behind Scott and to the left of the pitch count clock. “At this point, Wetherholt is in the batter’s box.

My goodness,” Braden said on the broadcast. “I’ll be honest, frankly, I’m surprised that nobody has said anything. ” First base umpire Bill Miller eventually called time before the 3-2 pitch and motioned for Wetherholt to move back. “It’s about time.

It’s about time. My goodness,” Braden said after the umpire intervened. ” Wetherholt then slowly walked back toward the on-deck area but still stopped noticeably short of it. Wetherholt reached base later in the inning after being hit by a pitch. That sequence set up an RBI single that tied the game and an RBI double that gave the Cardinals a 5-4 road win.

244 with eight home runs and 22 RBIs in 43 games this season. He has recorded 2.3 wins above replacement and contributed to the team’s 25-18 start.

The exchange occurred during an NBC Sports California broadcast of the game. Braden continued commenting as the overhead and side-angle shots highlighted Wetherholt’s position relative to the batter and the pitch clock. Umpire Bill Miller’s instruction came after repeated on-air remarks from the announcing team. Wetherholt complied with the umpire’s directive before the at-bat concluded.