According to CSNBayArea.com, San Francisco Giants outfielder Melky Cabrera has been ruled ineligible for the batting title. Cabrera is currently the leader in the race, but his suspension for performance enhancing drugs has surrounded the potential award with controversy.
Cabrera requested to be removed from the race, and MLB and the Player’s Union complied in a one time agreement. Cabrera was one plate appearance shy of qualifying for the award, but under rule 10.22(a), he would have been given a hitless at-bat to make up for the lost plate appearance. Cabrera turned down the at-bat, and MLB made a one time change to the rule to make Cabrera ineligible.
This makes Andrew McCutchen (.339) the current leader in the race, with Buster Posey (.335) challenging. The batting title now looks to be a two player race, with a big gap until the next qualified player, which is Yadier Molina at .321.
McCutchen wouldn’t talk about the batting title, but Pirates manager Clint Hurdle told Kristy Robinson that he wasn’t a fan of suspended players being able to win the batting title.
