The Houston Astros faced off against the New York Yankees on Tuesday night, but the biggest storyline wasn’t the game itself — it was the tension between pitcher Framber Valdez and catcher César Salazar after a strange and controversial moment on the mound.
Just before the incident, miscommunication led to a pitch that Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham launched for a grand slam. Immediately after, Valdez appeared visibly frustrated — and on the very next pitch, he threw a fastball directly into his catcher’s stomach, sparking speculation that it may have been intentional.
“There’s speculation that Astros pitcher Framber Valdez purposely crossed up his catcher Cesar Salazar and hit him with this pitch after Salazar told him to step off before allowing a grand slam,” JomBoy Media posted.
Following the game, both Valdez and Salazar were called into the manager’s office to discuss what happened. According to reports, Valdez apologized to his catcher and denied any malicious intent.
“Both Framber Valdez and César Salazar were brought into the manager’s office after the game. Valdez is said to have apologized to Salazar but said the cross-up was not on purpose,” JomBoy Media wrote.
Still, the situation has raised eyebrows — especially with Valdez set to hit free agency. Some believe this moment may have cost him, not just in public perception but potentially in future negotiations. Former Red Sox World Series champion Will Middlebrooks didn’t mince words when sharing his take on the incident.
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“The reaction to it [by Valdez] was everything I needed to know," Middlebrooks said to CBS Sports. "When I initially saw it I was thinking, O.K. it was a mistake. Then you watch the reaction by [Valdez]. No remorse. No my bad. No nothing. No reaction because your initial reaction any time you cross up a catcher is 'oh my god' because you could really hurt a guy. You squared him up in the sternum with 95 and you didn’t even react? I’m sorry, if he’s my teammate if I’m that catcher we’re going down the tunnel and you’re getting these hands either now or after the game, you can pick when you want them."
Middlebrooks didn’t hold back — and perhaps rightfully so. For a pitcher about to enter one of the most important free agency periods of his career, Valdez’s emotional reaction raised questions about his composure and professionalism. Especially when he was the one who gave up the grand slam, the optics of hitting his catcher — intentional or not — aren’t ideal.
There may never be a definitive answer about Valdez’s intent, but the video footage and reactions tell a story of their own.