Interference Ends Rockies-Pirates Game as Runner Clips Fielder

An umpire crew's interference call ended a one-run Rockies-Pirates game when Pittsburgh runner R2 Billy Cook ran in front of Colorado 3B Kyle Karros and, in doing so, interfered with the fielder's ability to field the batted ball. Let's take a look.

With two out and the bases loaded in the top of the 9th inning of a game Colorado led 2-1, Pirates batter Jake Mangum hit a 1-2 changeup from Rockies pitcher Jaden Hill on the ground toward 3B Karros, who prepared to field the ball as Pittsburgh baserunner R2 Cook ran by.

Although neither 2B Umpire Tyler Jones nor 3B Umpire Clint Vondrak called interference in real-time, Crew Chief Todd Tichenor convened his crew and, alongside HP Umpire Adam Hamari, exited the brief consultation by ruling baserunner Cook out for interference, resulting in the third and final out of the inning and of the ballgame itself.

Official Baseball Rule 6.01(a)(10) states "it is interference by a batter or a runner when they fail to avoid a fielder who is attempting to field a batted ball." Meanwhile, "obstruction is the act of a fielder who, while not in possession of the ball and not in the act of fielding the ball, impedes the progress of any runner."

Interference on the other hand is defined as follows: "Offensive interference is an act by the team at bat which interferes with, obstructs, impedes, hinders or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play." Note that contact between runner and fielder is not required for interference to be called. All that is needed is an act by the runner that simply impedes or hinders the fielder in their attempt to, in this case, field a batted ball.

From these rules and definitions, we are able to assemble a general baseball axiom.

During a batted ball, the fielder has the right of way to field the ball.

At any other time, the runner has the right of way to run the bases.

In other words, because 3B Karros was attempting to field a batted ball, that means he as the fielder has the right of way. Therefore, illegal interaction with the runner results in an interference call, even if there was no actual contact between the players, although in this case, the runner's left foot appeared to contact the fielder's glove prior to the ball's arrival.

Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 051 - John Bacon (1; Luis Urueta)

1B Umpire John Bacon ejected Rangers bench coach Luis Urueta (check swing ball three call to Xander Bogaerts) in the top of the 1st inning of the #Padres-#Rangers game. With two out and two on, Padres batter Bogaerts attempted to check his swing on a 2-2 fastball from Rangers pitcher Jacob deGrom for a called ball by HP Umpire Emil Jimenez, ruled no swing on appeal by base umpire Bacon.* At the time of the ejection, the Padres were leading, 5-0. The Rangers ultimately won the contest, 9-7.

This is John Bacon (70)'s 1st ejection of 2026.

*This game started with a two-person umpire crew due to a traffic delay. The remainder of the crew (2B Umpire Mike Muchlinski and 3B Umpire Gabe Morales) arrived to work the bottom of the first inning. Accordingly, base umpire Bacon made the check swing call from his position in the center of the infield. Bogaerts walked and ensuing batter Ty France hit a grand slam home run.

This is the 51st ejection report of the 2026 MLB regular season.

This is the 7th coach ejection of 2026. Ejection Tally: 30 Managers, 7 Coaches, 14 Players.

This is Texas' 1st ejection of 2026, 2nd in the AL West (LAA 3; OAK? 2; SEA, TEX 1; HOU 0).

This is Luis Urueta's 1st ejection since May 14, 2024 (Ben May; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is John Bacon's 1st ejection since Sept 27, 2025 (Mark Kotsay; QOC = Y [Foul Ball]).

Wrap: San Diego Padres vs Texas Rangers, 6/19/26 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 050 - Dan Merzel (3; Mark Kotsay)

HP Umpire Dan Merzel ejected Athletics manager Mark Kotsay (strike two call; QOCY) in the bottom of the 2nd inning of the #Angels-#Athletics game. With none out and none on, Athletics batter Carlos Cortes took a 1-1 sinker from Angels pitcher José Soriano for a called second strike; the Athletics did not challenge the call. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the heart of home plate and below the hollow beneath the knee (px -0.10, pz 1.46 [sz_bot 1.51 / RAD 1.39]), the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 0-0. The Athletics ultimately won the contest, 12-11.

This is Dan Merzel (3)'s 3rd ejection of 2026.

This is the 50th ejection report of the 2026 MLB regular season.

This is the 30th manager ejection of 2026. Ejection Tally: 30 Managers, 6 Coaches, 14 Players.

This is Unknown's 1st ejection of 2026, 2nd in the AL West (LAA 3; OAK? 2; SEA, TEX 1; HOU 0).

This is Mark Kotsay's 1st ejection since September 27, 2025 (John Bacon; QOC = Y [Foul Ball]).

This is Dan Merzel's 3rd ejection of 2026, 1st since May 26 (Craig Counsell; QOC = Y [ABS Denial]).

Wrap: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim vs Oakland Athletics of Sacramento, 6/19/26 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejections 048-9 - Carlos Torres (NYM Mendoza Mystery)

HP Umpire Carlos Torres ejected Mets unknown assistant coach and manager Carlos Torres (ball four call to JJ Bleday; QOCY) in the bottom of the 7th inning of the #Mets-#Reds game. With one out and none on, Reds batter Bleday took a 3-2 changeup from Mets pitcher Huascar Brazobán for a called fourth ball; the Mets were out of ABS challenges. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the inner half of home plate and below the hollow beneath the knee (px 0.32, pz 1.38 [sz_bot 1.66 / RAD 1.54]), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Reds were leading, 5-3. The Reds ultimately won the contest, 5-3.

These are Carlos Torres (37)'s 3rd and 4th ejections of 2026.

These are the 48th and 49th ejection reports of the 2026 MLB regular season.

This is the 6th coach ejection of 2026.

This is the 29th manager ejection of 2026. Ejection Tally: 29 Managers, 6 Coaches, 14 Players.

This is New York's 1/2nd ejection of 2026, 2nd in the NL East (MIA 3; NYM 2; ATL, PHI 1; WAS 0).

This is unknown Mets assistant coach's first MLB ejection.

This is Carlos Mendoza's 1st ejection since July 28, 2025 (Emil Jimenez; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Carlos Torres' 3/4th ejection of 2026, 1st since May 10 (Miguel Cairo; QOC = N [ABS Denial]).

Wrap: New York Mets vs Cincinnati Reds, 6/16/26 | Video as follows:

Umpire Warns Caballero for Pitch Clock Delay Strategy

When Yankees batter José Caballero delayed looking up at Blue Jays pitcher Spencer Miles in Toronto, HP Umpire Steven Jaschinski warned New York for an illegal delay tactic, leading to widespread confusion and online outrage that one viral content creator described as the umpire creating a new rule mid-game to punish a player he found annoying.

Rather than click-bait our way to viral monetization at the expense of factuality and reason, we've waited a bit to digest the play, research the rules, and cite our sources as we analyze what exactly happened at Rogers Centre.

With none out and one on in the top of the 6th inning, Caballero stepped into the batter's box, but kept his head down as he took his preparatory stance. By doing so, Caballero might have sought to induce pitcher Miles to come set and commit a pitch clock violation for coming set before the batter was alert to (looking at) the pitcher.

When MLB first introduced its pitch clock rules in 2023 Spring Training, it prescribed three timed responsibilities: catchers had to be in the catcher's box by the timer's nine-second mark, batters had to be in the box and alert to the pitcher by eight seconds, and the pitcher had to begin their delivery prior to the expiration of time.

Shortly thereafter, pitcher Max Scherzer attempted to catch batters off-guard by coming set and immediately firing home as soon as the batter began to look up. Nary a week later, MLB issued a new rule prohibiting pitchers from coming set before the batter becomes alert.

Related Post: Is Max Scherzer's Set Position Pitch Clock Strategy Legal? (3/4/23).

Related Post: MLB's Max Scherzer Rule - Pitcher Can't Come Set Before Batter is Ready (3/12/23).

One month later, Red Sox pitcher Kenley Jansen found himself called for three Scherzer Rule pitch timer violations as HP Umpire Derek Thomas ruled that Jansen came set before Cardinals batter Willson Contreras took his position with both feet in the batter's box and became alert to the pitcher. Once again, MLB issued a memo declaring a new pitch clock policy: batters could no longer induce Scherzer Rule violations by delaying their box entry or alertness by momentarily looking at the pitcher and then looking away as the pitcher comes set. Batters would now be considered alert (and thus pitchers eligible to come set) once they placed one foot in the batter's box and upon the first moment they looked at the pitcher, even if they looked away again.

Related Post: Kenley Jansen Called for 3 Pitch Timer Violations in Boston (5/14/23).

Related Post: Pitch Clock Chaos - Introducing The Contreras Rule (5/24/23).

This new Contreras Rule explained Diamondbacks batter Josh Rojas and Phillies pitcher Craig Kimbrel's pitch clock violation duel in May 2023, culminating with a confrontation that umpires had to break up. MLB effectively declared that neither pitchers (Scherzer Rule) nor batters (Contreras Rule) could attempt to circumnavigate the pitch clock rules to try and gain an unfair advantage.

Back to the present day, when Yankees batter Caballero stepped into the box, he briefly flashed a glance at Toronto pitcher Miles before looking down and delaying his gaze at the pitcher. But because of the three-year-old Contreras Rule, HP Umpire Jaschinski warned Caballero for attempting to circumvent the pitch clock rules to gain an advantage by trying to bait the pitcher into a violation, the first infraction of which is a warning. Had Caballero committed a second Contreras Rule violation, he would have been charged a strike.

So while the Daily News declared, "Caballero did nothing wrong," that declaration happens to be devoid of accuracy.

Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 047 - Steven Jaschinski (1; John Schneider)

HP Umpire Steven Jaschinski ejected Blue Jays manager John Schneider (step balk call on Jeff Hoffman; QOCY) in the top of the 8th inning of the #Yankees-#BlueJays game. With one out and one on, Yankees batter Max Scheumann took a 1-0 slider from Blue Jays pitcher Hoffman for a called strike as Yankees baserunner R1 Jazz Chisholm stole second base. On the ensuing pitch, pitcher Hoffman faked a pickoff throw to second base, but was called for a balk by HP Umpire Jaschinski. Replays indicate pitcher Hoffman failed to step directly toward second base before feigning to that base, the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 3-3. The Yankees ultimately won the contest, 8-3.

This is Steven Jaschinski (65)'s 1st ejection of 2026.

*Official Baseball Rule 6.02(a)(3): "If there is a runner, or runners, it is a balk when the pitcher, while touching their plate, fails to step directly toward a base before throwing to that base."

MLB Umpire Manual: "NOTE: The pitcher is required to step directly toward a base when feinting a

throw to a base (Under current rules, the only base a pitcher may feint to is second)"

This is the 47th ejection report of the 2026 MLB regular season.

This is the 28th manager ejection of 2026. Ejection Tally: 28 Managers, 5 Coaches, 14 Players.

This is Toronto's 3rd ejection of 2026, 1st in the AL East (NYY, TB, TOR 3; BAL 2; BOS 1).

This is John Schneider's 2nd ejection of 2026, 1st since April 7 (Kevin Gausman; QOC = Y [Balk]).

This is Steven Jashinski's first career MLB ejection.

Wrap: New York Yankees vs Toronto Blue Jays, 6/14/26 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejections 045-6 - Chris Conroy (2-3; SD x2)

2B Umpire Chris Conroy ejected Padres pitcher Ron Marinaccio and manager Craig Stammen (throwing at Gunnar Henderson) in the bottom of the 9th inning of the #Padres-#Orioles game. With two out and none on, Orioles batter Henderson took a 0-0 fastball for a hit-by-pitch. Replays indicate the pitch was located inside and struck Henderson in the right ribs, the call was irrecusable. At the time of the ejection, the Padres were leading, 9-3. The Padres ultimately won the contest, 9-3.

These are Chris Conroy (98)'s 2nd and 3rd ejections of 2026.

These are the 45th and 46th ejection reports of the 2026 MLB regular season.

This is the 14th player ejection of 2026.

This is the 27th manager ejection of 2026. Ejection Tally: 27 Managers, 5 Coaches, 14 Players.

This is San Diego's 2/3rd ejection of 2026, 1st in the NL West (SF, SD 3; ARI, COL, LAD 0).

This is Ron Marinaccio's first career MLB ejection.

This is Craig Stammen's 2nd ejection of 2026, 1st since May 30 (Dan Bellino; QOC = Y [Replay Review]).

This is Chris Conroy's 2/3rd ejection of 2026, 1st since June 5 (Terry Francona; QOC = Y [Replay]).

Wrap: San Diego Padres vs Baltimore Orioles, 6/13/26 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 044 - Adam Beck (2; Oliver Marmol)

HP Umpire Adam Beck ejected Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol (allowed ABS challenge overturned to ball call; QOCY) in the bottom of the 8th inning of the #Cardinals-#Twins game. With one out and none on, Twins batter Austin Martin took a 3-2 sinker from Cardinals pitcher Chris Roycroft for a called third strike, overturned to a fourth ball as the result of an ABS challenge by batter Martin. Replays indicate the pitch was located off the outer edge of home plate and thigh-high (px 0.90, pz 2.37) and the challenge was filed timely, the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, Cardinals were leading, 9-4. The Cardinals ultimately won the contest, 9-6.

This is Adam Beck (38)'s 2nd ejection of 2026.

This is the 44th ejection report of the 2026 MLB regular season.

This is the 26th manager ejection of 2026. Ejection Tally: 26 Managers, 5 Coaches, 13 Players.

This is Chicago's 2nd ejection of 2026, 2nd in the NL Central (PIT 5; CHC, CIN 2; STL 1; MIL 0).

This is Oliver Marmol's 1st ejection since August 17, 2025 (Nic Lentz; QOC = QOCN).

This is Adam Beck's 2nd ejection of 2026, 1st since April 11 (Kurt Suzuki; QOC = Y [Interference]).

Wrap: St Louis Cardinals vs Minnesota Twins, 6/13/26 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 043 - Louie Krupa (1; Craig Counsell)

HP Umpire Louie Krupa ejected Cubs manager Craig Counsell (fair ball call; QOCN) in the top of the 6th inning of the #Cubs-#Rockies game. With none out and one on, Cubs batter Moisés Ballesteros hit a 101 fastball from Rockies pitcher Blas Castaño on the ground to Castaño, who threw to shortstop Ezequiel Tovar to force out baserunner R1 Nico Hoerner at second base, to 1B TJ Rumfield to retire batter-runner Ballesteros. Replays indicate the batted ball made contact with Ballesteros' leg guard while Ballesteros was in the batter's box (fair/foul on the infield is not reviewable), the call was incorrect. At the time of the ejection, the Cubs were leading, 6-2. The Cubs ultimately won the contest, 9-3.

This is Louie Krupa (27)'s 1st ejection of 2026.

This is the 43rd ejection report of the 2026 MLB regular season.

This is the 25th manager ejection of 2026. Ejection Tally: 25 Managers, 5 Coaches, 13 Players.

This is Chicago's 2nd ejection of 2026, 2nd in the NL Central (PIT 5; CHC, CIN 2; MIL, STL 0).

This is Craig Counsell's 2nd ejection of 2026, 1st since May 26 (Dan Merzel; QOC = Y [ABS Denial]).

This is Louie Krupa's first career MLB Ejection.

Wrap: Chicago Cubs vs Colorado Rockies, 6/11/26 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 042 - Jansen Visconti (1; David Popkins)

HP Umpire Jansen Visconti ejected Blue Jays hitting coach David Popkins (strike one call to Vladimir Guerrero; QOCY) in the bottom of the 4th inning of the #Phillies-#BlueJays game. With one out and none on, Blue Jays batter Guerrero took a 0-0 changeup from Phillies pitcher Christopher Sánchez for a called first strike; batter Guerrero did not request an ABS challenge for this pitch. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer edge of home plate and above the hollow beneath the knee (px 0.79, pz 2.22), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Phillies were leading, 5-1. The Phillies ultimately won the contest, 5-2.

This is Jansen Visconti (52)'s 1st ejection of 2026.

*This pitch was located 0.96 horizontal inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the 42nd ejection report of the 2026 MLB regular season.

This is the 13th player ejection of 2026. Ejection Tally: 24 Managers, 5 Coaches, 13 Players.

This is Toronto's 2nd ejection of 2026, 1st in the AL East (NYY, TB 3; BAL, TOR 2; BOS 1).

This is David Popkins' 1st ejection since Sept 24, 2025 (Gabe Morales; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Jansen Visconti's 1st ejection since April 30, 2024 (Jazz Chisholm; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Philadelphia Phillies vs Toronto Blue Jays, 6/8/26 | Video as follows: