A LITTLE League baseball player has been suspended from the playoffs for a celebration.
New Jersey Little Leaguer Marco Rocco bat flipped a home run and was subsequently banned from playing in the state tournament final.
Marco Rocco was suspended from the New Jersey state Little League finals[/caption]
Rocco was ejected from a game for bat flipping and was subsequently suspended[/caption]
The 12-year-old Rocco plays for Haddonfield Little League, and was ejected from the game that he hit the home run in.
According to NJ.com, his family is filing a temporary restraining order in the Gloucester County Chancery Division to try overturning the suspension.
Rocco hit his home run against Harrison Little League on Thursday and celebrated as the ball landed past the fence.
He was immediately ejected from the game, which carries a one-game suspension.
Umpires said it was due to a “safety concern,” according to Rocco’s father.
Little League International told the family that Rocco broke a rule with his celebration.
“He’s played Little League his whole life, and his dream is to make it to the World Series in Williamsport,” Joe Rocco, Marco’s father, told NJ.com.
“We’re in the state finals and are a couple of steps away. We’re on our way there, and now, they tell him he can’t play.”
Joe Rocco said Little League sent his family a letter explaining its rule against horseplay.
However, his issue is that he believes the league promotes celebrations like bat flipping on its social media pages.
“Little League International openly promotes bat flipping all over their social media accounts, their websites and the broadcasts on TV for the Little League World Series,” he said.
“It’s openly promoted and encouraged. My son watches that and was emulating what he sees.”
The Rocco family claimed they tried to resolve things outside of court, but that Little League International was “not willing to compromise in any way.”
Baseball fans were appalled by the decision to suspend Rocco, and shared their thoughts on social media.
“Let them play,” one fan said.
MLB All-Star Game Starters 2025
Here are the All-Star teams for the American League and National League at the Midsummer Classic on July 15 at Atlanta’s Truist Park, voted on by the fans.
American League Starters
- Catcher: Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners
- First base: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays
- Second base: Gleyber Torres, Detroit Tigers
- Third base: José Ramírez, Cleveland Guardians
- Shortstop: Jacob Wilson, The Athletics
- Outfield: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees
- Outfield: Javier Báez, Tigers
- Outfield: Riley Greene, Tigers
- Designated hitter: Ryan O’Hearn, Baltimore Orioles
National League Starters
- Catcher: Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers
- First base: Freddie Freeman, Dodgers
- Second base: Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks
- Third base: Manny Machado, San Diego Padres
- Shortstop: Francisco Lindor, New York Mets
- Outfield: Ronald Acuña Jr., Atlanta Braves
- Outfield: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs
- Outfield: Kyle Tucker, Cubs
- Designated hitter: Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers
“That’s ridiculous. He should have been given a warning,” another fan said.
“Suspended is insane,” a third fan said.
“He’s a kid. Let him play,” a fourth fan said.
“Absolutely ridiculous. Let the kids be kids,” a fifth fan said.
