Yankees’ Open Sign-Relaying Draws Notice After Ben Rice’s Three-Run Homer

The New York Yankees openly relayed an opponent’s signs during the first inning of Sunday’s 4-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays, a tactic that preceded Ben Rice’s three-run home run off Max Scherzer and drew public comment from Toronto’s manager.

During Rice’s at-bat, Aaron Judge stood at second base and repeatedly waved his arms while Cody Bellinger, at first, made similarly obvious motions. Rice connected on a three-run shot early in the game, providing the margin that would hold up for the Yankees.

"I guess we’re good at it," Bellinger said after the game. "It feels like a lot of people do it right now. … We’re just so obvious with it [and] with our motion. That’s probably what it is. A lot of teams are discreet. We say, ‘We got it.’ "

Toronto manager John Schneider said the Yankees’ approach is widely known and that his club needs to avoid giving away information. "They were relaying pitches, they’re good at it. Major League Baseball knows the Yankees are good when they have something," Schneider told reporters. "Maybe I’m the only one that’s going to say it publicly. But we have to do a better job of making sure we’re not giving anything away."

Scherzer, who gave up the homer, described the visible relaying as part of the contest. "It's part of the game," he said. Blue Jays infielder Austin Wells echoed that view, saying, "Every team we play tries to relay signs, whether it’s [about] location or pitch. Everybody does."

Yankees players said the activity often begins before a game, with scouting and pregame preparation used to identify patterns. Bellinger said the team looks for signs during the game and, when they recognize one, they are not shy about indicating it to teammates on the bases or in the dugout. The Yankees have been notably conspicuous at times, which has drawn more attention than subtler approaches used by other clubs.

The episode on Sunday was the latest in a series of instances this season in which base runners or coaches have relayed information that opponents later noted. Earlier in the year, the Yankees identified tipping by Seattle reliever Andrés Muñoz and capitalized on it in a game against the Mariners. A separate on-field confrontation occurred when Jazz Chisholm Jr. and an Atlanta coach argued after Chisholm appeared to be relaying signs seen from second base during a matchup with Rafael Montero.

Club officials and many players maintain that relaying or decoding signs, when done without improper technology or on-field interference, falls within the accepted practices of the sport. Teams also say the effort to mask signs and vary signals is a routine part of preparing pitchers and catchers for opponents.

Rice’s first-inning homer proved decisive in a game that saw both bullpens tested and managers deploying relievers to protect slim leads. New York’s defense and bullpen work held the Blue Jays to three runs after the early barrage, securing a win that extended the Yankees’ streak of close-game victories.

The public exchange after the game underscored a tension present throughout the major leagues: clubs work to gain an edge through observation and preparation, while opponents and managers emphasize the need to conceal tendencies and signals. For the Yankees, the obviousness of their gestures drew comment; for Toronto, it was a reminder to tighten in-game security of signs as the season reaches its final weeks.