In a surprising turn of events, Chicago Cubs reliever Luke Little was required to switch his glove before entering Wednesday night's match against the Houston Astros due to an American flag patch. Manager Craig Counsell revealed that umpires informed them about the issue during the usual pre-game check for pitchers.

Pitchers' gloves have strict regulations regarding the absence of white color, and it was determined that the American flag patch on Little's glove could potentially distract hitters. As Little prepared to warm up for his appearance, a clubhouse attendant hurriedly searched for a replacement glove in his locker. However, the initial option brought to Little by the attendant also had an American flag patch, forcing him to wait for a glove that hadn't been broken in.

Frustrated by the unforeseen circumstance, Little shared his experience of having to break in a new glove during an ongoing game. The 23-year-old pitcher, hailing from North Carolina, revealed that he had been using the same glove since his Class A baseball days. Despite the setback, Little successfully retired both batters he faced after the issue was resolved.

Following the Cubs' 4-3 victory, Little took to social media, posting a message that expressed his patriotism. "Proud to be an American...Go Cubs Go," he wrote, accompanied by an American flag emoji and a GIF of wrestler Hulk Hogan playing a guitar in front of the flag.

Little expressed his belief that the flag patch did not provide any competitive advantage and merely served as a representation of his country. He mentioned that the clubhouse staff had received an email from MLB stating that he was not allowed to wear it, but he did not expect to face the possibility of being removed from the game.

As of now, MLB has not provided any comments regarding the incident. It remains to be seen if any further action will be taken regarding the use of flag patches on players' gloves. In the end, Little successfully navigated the glove controversy and contributed to the Cubs' victory, likely becoming a topic of discussion in the baseball community.