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Sunday, May 11, 2025

MLB Ejection 029 - Ramon De Jesus (1; Bob Melvin)

1B Umpire Ramon De Jesus ejected Giants manager Bob Melvin (check swing strike three call) in the top of the 9th inning of the #Giants-#Twins game. With none out and none on, Giants batter Christian Koss attempted to check his swing on a 0-2 sweeper from Twins pitcher Danny Coulombe, ruled a ball by HP Umpire Quinn Wolcott and called a strike on appeal by 1B Umpire De Jesus. At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 5-5. The Twins ultimately won the contest, 7-6, in 10 innings.

This is Ramon De Jesus (18)'s 1st ejection of 2025.

This is the 29th ejection of the 2025 MLB regular season.
This is the 13th manager ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 13 Managers, 8 Coaches, 8 Players.
This is San Francisco's 1st ejection of 2025, 3rd in the NL West (ARI, SD 2; LAD, SF 1; COL 0).
This is Bob Melvin's 1st ejection since August 8, 2024 (Stu Scheurwater; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Ramon De Jesus' 1st ejection since Sept 27, 2024 (Carlos Mendoza; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Saturday, May 10, 2025

MLB Ejection 028 - Nestor Ceja (1; Johnny Washington)

HP Umpire Nestor Ceja ejected Angels hitting coach Johnny Washington (Unsportsmanlike-NEC) in the bottom of the 5th inning of the #Orioles-#Angels game. With one out and the bases loaded, Angels batter Luis Rengifo hit a 0-1 fastball from Orioles pitcher Colin Selby for an RBI groundout. Replays indicate no controversial or close calls occurred prior to the ejection, although the broadcaster suggested carryover from the previous game in relation to a check swing strike call, the call was irrecusable. At the time of the ejection, the Angels were leading, 5-0. The Angels ultimately won the contest, 5-2.

This is Nestor Ceja (33)'s 1st ejection of 2025.
*This pitch was located 0.36 horizontal inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 28th ejection of the 2025 MLB regular season.
This is the 8th coach ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 12 Managers, 8 Coaches, 8 Players.
This is Los Angeles' 1st ejection of 2025, 1st in the AL West (LAA 1; HOU, OAK, SEA, TEX 0).
This is Johnny Washington's 1st ejection since August 19, 2024 (Vic Carapazza; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Nestor Ceja's 1st ejection since September 15, 2024 (Jesse Winker; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

MLB Ejection 027 - Adrian Johnson (3; Rocco Baldelli)

HP Umpire Adrian Johnson ejected Twins manager Rocco Baldelli (strike two call to Carlos Correa; QOCN) in the bottom of the 6th inning of the #Giants-#Twins game. With two out and one on, Twins batter Correa took a 2-1 sinker from Giants pitcher Logan Webb for a called second strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located off the outer edge of home plate and thigh-high (px 0.94, pz 2.06), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Twins were leading, 2-1. The Twins ultimately won the contest, 2-1.

This is Adrian Johnson (80)'s 3rd ejection of 2025.
*This pitch was located 0.36 horizontal inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 27th ejection of the 2025 MLB regular season.
This is the 12th manager ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 12 Managers, 7 Coaches, 8 Players.
This is Minnesota's 2nd ejection of 2025, 1st in the AL Central (MIN 2; KC 1; CWS, CLE, DET 0).
This is Rocco Baldelli's 2nd ejection of 2025, 1st since April 7 (Nic Lentz; QOC = Y [Pitch Clock]).
This is Adrian Johnson's 2nd ejection of 2025, 1st since May 5 (Mike Shildt; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

MLB Ejections 025-6 - Clint Vondrak, Dan Bellino (PIT x2)

HP Umpire Clint Vondrak ejected Pirates manager Don Kelly (ball two call to Matt Olson; QOCY) in the 6th and 3B Umpire Dan Bellino ejected Pirates right fielder Bryan Reynolds (strike three call; QOCY) in the 7th inning of the #Braves-#Pirates game. In the top of the 6th, with none out, Braves batter Olson took a 1-0 slider from Pirates pitcher Andrew Heaney for a called second ball. Replays indicate the pitch was located off the outer edge of home plate and thigh-high (px -0.94, pz 1.98 [sz_bot 1.60]), the call was correct.* In the bottom of the 7th, Pirates batter Reynolds took a 3-2 slider from Braves pitcher Dylan Lee for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer edge of home plate and at the hollow of the knee (px 0.73, pz 1.60 [sz_bot 1.54 / RAD 1.66]), the call was correct.^ At the time of both ejections, the Braves were leading, 2-1. The Braves ultimately won the contest, 3-2, in 11 innings.

This is Clint Vondrak ()'s 1st ejection of 2025.
This is Dan Bellino (2)'s 1st ejection of 2025.
*This pitch to Olson was located 2.40 horizontal inches from being deemed incorrect.
^This pitch to Reynolds was located 1.68 vertical inches from being deemed incorrect.

These are the 25th and 26th ejections of the 2025 MLB regular season.
This is the 11th manager & 8th player ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 11 Managers, 7 Coaches, 8 Players.
This is Pittsburgh's 1/2nd ejection of 2025, 1st in the NL Central (CIN, MIL, PIT, STL 2; CHC 1).
This is Don Kelly's 1st ejection since August 13, 2023 (Nic Lentz; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Bryan Reynolds' 1st ejection since April 19, 2023 (Adam Beck; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Clint Vondrak's 1st ejection since April 12, 2024 (Bob Melvin; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Dan Bellino's 1st ejection since May 25, 2024 (Scott Servais; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Friday, May 9, 2025

MLB Ejection 024 - Jeremie Rehak (1; Mark Prior)

HP Umpire Jeremie Rehak ejected Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior (ball four call; QOCN) in the bottom of the 6th inning of the #Dodgers-#Diamondbacks game. With two out and the bases loaded, Diamondbacks batter Eugenio Suárez took a 3-2 sweeper from Dodgers pitcher Luis García for a called fourth ball. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the heart of home plate and above the midpoint (px -0.15, pz 3.52 [sz_top 3.42 / RAD 3.54 / MOE 3.46]), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Diamondbacks were leading, 9-8. The Dodgers ultimately won the contest, 14-11.

This is Jeremie Rehak (35)'s 1st ejection of 2025.
*This pitch was located 0.72 vertical inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the 24th ejection of the 2025 MLB regular season.
This is the 7th coach ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 10 Managers, 7 Coaches, 7 Players.
This is Los Angeles' 1st ejection of 2025, 3rd in the NL West (ARI, SD 2; LAD 1; COL, SF 0).
This is Mark Prior's first career MLB ejection.
This is Jeremie Rehak's 1st ejection since July 12, 2024 (Carlos Mendoza; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

MLB Ejection 023 - James Hoye (1; Pat Murphy)

3B Umpire James Hoye ejected Brewers manager Pat Murphy (obstruction call; QOCY) in the bottom of the 6th inning of the #Brewers-#Rays game. With two out and one on, Rays baserunner Junior Caminero attempted to steal second base, drawing a throw from Brewers catcher William Contreras as Rays baserunner R3 Christopher Morel ran far off third base, drawing a throw to third baseman Caleb Durbin, who was called for obstruction. Replays indicate Durbin blocked Morel's path to the base without possession of the ball and not in a legitimate attempt to field the throw, the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the Rays were leading, 3-2. The Rays ultimately won the contest, 4-3.

This is James Hoye (92)'s 1st ejection of 2025.
The Official Baseball Rules define obstruction as "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.
OBR 6.01(h)(1): "If a play is being made on the obstructed runner...The obstructed runner shall be awarded at least one base beyond the base they had last legally touched before the obstruction."

This is the 23rd manager ejection of the 2025 MLB regular season.
This is the 10th manager ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 10 Managers, 6 Coaches, 7 Players.
This is Cincinnati's 1/2nd ejection of 2025, 1st in the NL Central (CIN, MIL, STL 2; CHC 1; PIT 0).
This is Pat Murphy's 1st ejection since Sept 21, 2024 (Chris Segal; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).
This is James Hoye's 1st ejection since Sept 10, 2024 (Edwin Uceta; QOC = U [Throwing At]).

Thursday, May 8, 2025

MLB Ejections 021-2 - Alex MacKay, Alan Porter (CIN x2)

2B Umpire Alex MacKay ejected Reds 1B Coach Collin Cowgill and 3B Umpire Alan Porter ejected Reds manager Terry Francona (Replay Review decision that upheld MacKay's out [tag] play at second base on Blake Dunn's stolen base attempt; QOCY) in the top of the 11th inning of the #Reds-#Braves game. With two out and one on, Reds baserunner R1 Dunn attempted to steal second base on a first-pitch fastball from Scott Blewett to Reds batter Rece Hinds, ruled a strike by HP Umpire Brian Walsh, as Reds catcher Drake Baldwin threw to second baseman Ozzie Albies as Dunn slid into second base, ruled out by 2B Umpire MacKay. After Replay Review as the result of a challenge by Reds manager Francona, the call was upheld. Replays indicate Albies did not obstruct Dunn by virtue of gaining possession of the baseball before blocking the runner's path to second base, the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 4-4. The Braves ultimately won the contest, 5-4, in 11 innings.

This is Alex MacKay (9)'s 1st ejection of 2025.
This is Alan Porter (64)'s 1st ejection of 2025.
*The Official Baseball Rules define obstruction as "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." Accordingly, while it remains illegal for a fielder not yet in possession of the ball to block the runner's path into a base by placing a leg/knee/foot in the runner's way, it is not illegal for a fielder who has already gained possession of the ball to block the runner in this way. 

These are the 21st and 22nd ejection reports of the 2025 MLB regular season.
This is the 6th coach & 9th manager ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 9 Managers, 6 Coaches, 7 Players.
This is Cincinnati's 1/2nd ejection of 2025, 1st in the NL Central (CIN, STL 2; CHC, MIL 1; PIT 0).
This is Collin Cowgill's 1st ejection since April 18, 2015 (Paul Nauert; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Terry Francona's 1st ejection since August 5, 2023 (Mark Wegner; QOC = U [Fighting]).
This is Alex MacKay's 1st ejection since August 13, 2023 (Rob Thomson; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Alan Porter's 1st ejection since September 22, 2024 (Alex Cora; QOC = Y-c [Obstruction]).

Wrap: Cincinnati Reds vs Atlanta Braves, 5/8/25 | Video as follows:

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Runner Misses Base in Boston, But Replay Says He's Safe???

When Replay Review ruled Rangers batter-runner Wyatt Langford safe at first base, even though he failed to touch it on an infield ground ball, Red Sox manager Alex Cora visited umpire Dan Iassogna for a "call confirmed" explanation. Soon after, Cora walked back to Boston's dugout, appearing satisfied with the crew chief's rationale...so what was the reason Houck was safe?

With one out and two on, Rangers batter Langford hit a ground ball to Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck, who threw low to first base, where first baseman Romy Gonzalez failed to catch the low throw as batter-runner Langford danced around Gonzalez to avoid him.

1B Umpire Adam Beck slowly gestured "safe" as Boston opted to challenge the call, alleging that Langford was actually out because first baseman Gonzalez did eventually pick up the baseball while standing on first base.

Replay Review returned a "call confirmed" decision, ruling the runner safe at first base, even though the runner missed the bag on his initial run through and even though the fielder's foot was in contact with first base, while he held the baseball, before the runner could return to touch the missed base.

This is an appeal play pursuant to Official Baseball Rule 5.09(c)(2), which states, "Any runner shall be called out, on appeal, when: With the ball in play, while advancing or returning to a base, they fail to touch each base in order before they, or a missed base, is tagged."

An appeal is defined as "the act of a fielder in claiming violation of the rules by the offensive team," and the MLB Umpire Manual includes a case play whose scenario mirrors that which occurred in Boston.

It states, "Batter-runner hits a ground ball and beats the play at first base but misses the bag...The proper mechanic is for the umpire to make no call on the play because the batter-runner has not yet touched first base. If the defense appeals by tagging the runner (or base) and appealing that the runner missed first base before the runner returns to first base, the batter-runner would be declared out."

Accordingly, Replay Review applied the MLBUM case play to adjudicate this sequence. The runner is ultimately safe because Boston failed to make a clear and unmistakeable appeal claiming a violation of rules by the offensive team, which is a higher standard than a simple tag out. Whereas inadvertently stepping on the base while holding the baseball might result in an out during a force play, this is insufficient to effect an appeal because it lacks clear communication to the umpire of intent to appeal a violation of the rules.

The only part of this play officiated improperly therefore was the umpire's safe mechanic: the proper mechanic is to make no call until either the defense appeals or the runner returns to touch the missed base. But without a defensive appeal, the runner is safe regardless for having beaten the play.

Video as follows:

Monday, May 5, 2025

MLB Ejections 019-20 - Adrian Johnson (1-2; SD x2)

HP Umpire Adrian Johnson ejected Padres RF Fernando Tatis and manager Mike Shildt (strike two call; QOCY) in the top of the 8th inning of the #Padres-#Yankees game. With one out and two on, Padres batter Tatis took a 1-1 changeup from Yankees pitcher Devin Williams for a called second strike before striking out swinging on the next pitch. Replays indicate the 1-1 pitch was located over the outer half of home plate and at the hollow of the knee (px 0.20, pz 1.62 [sz_bot 1.74 / RAD 1.62]), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Yankees were leading, 3-0. The Padres ultimately won the contest, 4-3.

These are Adrian Johnson (80)'s 1st and 2nd ejections of 2025.
*This pitch was located 1.00 vertical inches from being deemed incorrect.

These are the 19th and 20th ejection reports of the 2025 MLB regular season.
This is the 7th player & 8th manager ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 8 Managers, 5 Coaches, 7 Players.
This is San Diego's 1/2nd ejection of 2025, 1st in the NL West (ARI, SD 2; COL, LAD, SF 0).
This is Fernando Tatis' first career MLB ejection.
This is Mike Shildt's 1st ejection since June 25, 2024 (Adam Hamari; QOC = U [USC-NEC]).

Saturday, May 3, 2025

MiLB Ejections - Three Bench Clearings and a HBP

Benches cleared several times between MiLB's Brooklyn Cyclones and Jersey Shore BlueClaws, resulting in three ejections for umpires Dominic Romero and Tatum Littleton, as a violent-but-legal infield collision, home run celebration, and retaliatory intentional hit-by-pitch riled the Single-A series, leaving the two umpires to manage a number of upset players, managers, and coaches.

It all started with a hard infield collision between Cyclones baserunner R2 Eli Serrano, picked off and caught stealing 3rd base, that resulted in rundown, which ended when Serrano ran into BlueClaws right fielder Jordan Viars, the collision knocking Serrano to the ground and bringing Brooklyn out of its dugout. Umpires opted to warn both teams following this bench-clearing incident pursuant to Official Baseball Rule 6.02(c)(9)'s warnings provision: "If, in the umpire’s judgment, circumstances warrant, both teams may be officially “warned” prior to the game or at any time during the game."

Two innings later, Serrano homered and celebrated during his trip around the bases, drawing further BlueClaws ire and an argument from manager Greg Brodzinski, who left the dugout to argue with the umpires several times over the course of this series.

The next day, BlueClaws pitcher Aaron Combs hit Cyclones batter Chris Suero with a pitch immediately after Suero shouted out toward the mound, resulting in yet another benches-clearing event as the bullpens got involved, going back and forth with Suero at first base.

Umpires Romero and Littleton had huddled up to confer after the intentional HBP, as is protocol, and the benches emptied during this discussion that had taken both umpires away from their game management responsibilities...thanks, of course, to pro ball protocol for intent HBP situations which mandate a full-crew conference. The umpires then had another conference before opting to eject BlueClaws pitcher Combs for violation of OBR 6.02(c)(9) ("If, in the umpire’s judgment, such a violation occurs, the umpire may elect either to expel the pitcher, or manager and pitcher, from the game, or [issue warnings]") and batter Suero for his unsporting conduct with the pitcher and bullpen.

BlueClaws manager Brodzinski got the boot for refusing to stop arguing after more than five minutes of discussion with the umpires following the umpires' own conference.

Video as follows: