Major League Baseball is now reportedly investigating a heated exchange between Atlanta Braves assistant coach Eddie Pérez and Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr.
But before things spiral out of control, Pérez has shared his version of events, speaking before his team’s 4-2 loss to the Yankees in Game 3 on Sunday afternoon.
What Happened Between Pérez and Chisholm Jr.?
The drama unfolded Saturday night when Chisholm Jr. mocked the Braves’ dugout with a crying gesture, followed by a dismissive wave. His taunts were aimed directly at Pérez, who was jawing from the steps of the home dugout.
However, what really set off Chisholm and several Yankees players was Pérez’s gesture pointing toward his own head, which the Yankees interpreted as a threat that a pitch would intentionally plunk their hitter.
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But Pérez said that couldn’t be farther from the truth and revealed his real intention behind the pointed gesture.
“I was just saying, ‘Be smart,’” Pérez told MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch. “I like that guy. He’s one of my favorites. And he got mad about it. I don’t know why he got mad about it. So I was like, ‘Take it easy,’ and he started doing some [stuff].”
Jazz Chisholm Jr. was going at it with Braves coach Eddie Perez, who was pointing at his own head while shouting at Jazz pic.twitter.com/bHvwda6dyK
— Talkin’ Yanks (@TalkinYanks) July 20, 2025
The confrontation began when Pérez noticed Chisholm relaying signs from second base while shortstop Anthony Volpe was hitting in the sixth inning. Volpe hit a deep sacrifice fly to the warning track moments after the Yankees’ second baseman appeared to tip him off that a fastball was coming from Braves reliever Rafael Montero.
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Following the inning, Chisholm was visibly animated in the dugout. He mimicked Pérez’s head-pointing gesture while venting to teammates Aaron Judge and others, repeatedly tapping his helmet in frustration. But in the postgame interviews, the Yankees infielder kept his response short.
“No comment,” he said Saturday night and echoed the same sentiment Sunday morning. “If you’re going to ask about yesterday, I have nothing to say.”
Is Sign Stealing Actually Legal in Major League Baseball?
Yes, traditional sign stealing falls within baseball’s legal boundaries.
Sign stealing in baseball happens when a player tries to decode the signals the opposing team uses, usually reading the catcher’s signs to the pitcher to anticipate what type of pitch is coming next.
No surprise the Yankees cheated again to get a win pic.twitter.com/6zqMqBe2la
— KutterIsKing (@KutterIsKing) July 20, 2025
In Chisholm Jr.’s case, his actions at second base, appearing to relay pitch location or signs to Volpe, were entirely within the rules. MLB places the responsibility on teams to protect their signs, not on opponents to ignore obvious patterns they can pick up.
What Happens Next for Both Teams?
The Yankees wrapped up the series with a 4-2 victory Sunday, taking two out of three games against the Braves at Truist Park. With no more meetings scheduled between the clubs during the 2025 regular season, both teams will hope to move past this controversy.
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Meanwhile, the Yankees continue closing ground on the AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays, who currently hold a three-game division lead. New York remains well-positioned to be an aggressive buyer ahead of the 2025 MLB trade deadline on July 31.
Atlanta faces a different reality, sitting fourth in the NL East and 13 games behind the division-leading Philadelphia Phillies. Barring a dramatic turnaround, the Braves are on track to miss the postseason for the first time in seven years. With their playoff hopes nearly extinguished, the Braves are expected to pivot to seller mode as the trade deadline approaches.
