Close Call Sports & Umpire Ejection Fantasy League

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Monday, July 27, 2026

MLB Ejection 076 - Ben May (2; Don Kelly)

3B Umpire Ben May ejected Pirates manager Don Kelly (check swing strike calls to Bryan Reynolds) in the bottom of the 8th inning of the #Diamondbacks-#Pirates game. With two out and one on, Pirates batter Reynolds attempted to check his swing on a 0-0 and 2-1 changeups from Diamondbacks pitcher Jonathan Loáisiga, ruled balls by HP Umpire Brennan Miller and called swinging strikes on appeal by 3B Umpire May. At the time of the ejection, the Diamondbacks were leading, 2-1. The Pirates ultimately won the contest, 3-2, in 10 innings.

This is Ben May (97)'s 1st ejection of 2026.

This is the 76th ejection report of the 2026 MLB regular season.

This is the 40th manager ejection of 2026. Ejection Tally: 40 Managers, 16 Coaches, 20 Players.

This is Pittsburgh's 6th ejection of 2026, 1st in the NL Central (PIT 6; CHC 3; CIN, STL 2; MIL 0).

This is Don Kelly's 4th ejection of 2026, 1st since May 25 (Dan Bellino; QOC = Y [Replay Review]).

This is Ben May's 1st ejection since June 23, 2024 (Jeff Banister; QOC = Y [Pitch Clock Violation]).

Wrap: Arizona Diamondbacks vs Pittsburgh Pirates, 7/27/26 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 075 - Chad Fairchild (2; Chris Cron)

HP Umpire Chad Fairchild ejected Athletics hitting coach Chris Cron (balk call on Luis Morales; QOCY) in the bottom of the 2nd inning of the #Athletics-#Twins game. With two out and the bases loaded, A's pitcher Morales was called for a balk during Ryan Jeffers' at-bat. Replays indicate that on his first pitch to Jeffers, Morales took a step back, as if pitching from Windup, while his footwork parallel to the rubber indicated Set Position, without declaring his intent to pitch from Windup Position, the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Twins were leading, 4-0. The Twins ultimately won the contest, 11-8.

This is Chad Fairchild (4)'s 2nd ejection of 2026.

*Official Baseball Rule 5.07(a)(2) Comment: "With a runner or runners on base, a pitcher will be presumed to be pitching from the Set Position if they stand with their pivot foot in contact with and parallel to the pitcher’s plate, and their other foot in front of the pitcher’s plate, unless they notify the umpire that they will be pitching from the Windup Position under such circumstances prior to the beginning of an at-bat."

Related Ejection: E71 - Hamari / Souza (feat. Jen Pawol's balk on Kevin Gausman) (7/12/26).

This is the 75th ejection report of the 2026 MLB regular season.

This is the 16th coach ejection of 2026. Ejection Tally: 39 Managers, 16 Coaches, 20 Players.

This is Athletics' 3rd ejection of 2026, 2nd in the AL West (LAA 4; ATH 3; SEA, TEX 1; HOU 0).

This is Chris Cron's 2nd ejection of 2026, 1st since April 29 (John Libka; QOC = N [Quick Pitch]).

This is Chad Fairchild's 2nd ejection of 2026, 1st since May 16 (Dan Wilson; QOC = U [Check Swing]).

Wrap: Athletics vs Minnesota Twins, 7/26/26 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 074 - Lance Barrett (5; Tony Vitello)

3B Umpire Lance Barrett ejected Giants manager Tony Vitello (unreviewable safe/runner pushed off base call by 2B Umpire Mike Estabrook; QOCN) in the bottom of the 7th inning of the #Giants-#Royals game. With none out and none on, Royals batter Vinnie Pasquantino hit a 3-2 fastball from Giants pitcher Landen Roupp on a ground ball to right field, fielded by RF Jung Hoo Lee who threw to SS Willy Adames, who attempted to tag batter-runner Pasquantino as he slid into second base, ruled safe by 2B Umpire Estabrook. Replays indicate the runner appeared safe at second, but may have broken contact with the base due to momentum in oversliding it and that 2B Umpire Estabrook judged that SS Adames illegally pushed BR Pasquantino off the base, rendering the play unreviewable and making the runner safe, the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Giants were leading, 3-0. The Royals ultimately won the contest, 5-4.

This is Lance Barrett (94)'s 5th ejection of 2026.

This is the 74th ejection report of the 2026 MLB regular season.

This is the 39th manager ejection of 2026. Ejection Tally: 39 Managers, 15 Coaches, 20 Players.

This is San Francisco's 5th ejection of 2026, 2nd in the NL West (SD 6; SF 5; ARI 1; COL, LAD 0).

This is Tony Vitello's 3rd ejection of 2026, 1st since July 11 (Lance Barksdale; QOC = Y [Balk]).

This is Lance Barrett's 5th ejection of 2026, 1st since July 7 (Bobby Dickerson; QOC = Y [Replay Review]).

Wrap: San Francisco Giants vs Kansas City Royals, 7/22/26 | Video as follows:

2B Umpire Adrian Johnson ejected Yankees hitting coach James Rowson (pitch clock violation call by HP Umpire Quinn Wolcott on batter José Caballero; QOCN) in the bottom of the 6th inning of the #Pirates-#Yankees game. With two out and one on, Yankees batter Caballero was called for a pitch clock violation prior to Pirates pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski's 0-1 pitch. Replays indicate Caballero entered the batter's box and delayed becoming alert to the pitcher by keeping his head facing down and not looking at the pitcher for several seconds after entering the batter's box, deemed a pitch clock violation by MLB, the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Pirates were leading, 2-0. The Pirates ultimately won the contest, 5-3.

This is Adrian Johnson (80)'s 2nd ejection of 2026.

This is a technically correct call for a confusing mid-season interpretation of the pitch clock rule: "Conduct by batters designed to deceive a pitcher into beginning their windup or coming to the set position in violation of these Regulations shall be considered circumvention in accordance with section A.4.d below. In such cases, the umpires will issue a warning to the batter for his deceptive behavior. If the batter continues to engage in such conduct during the game, the umpire shall asses a Pitch Clock Violation (i.e., automatic strike)."

Accordingly, assessing a Pitch Clock Violation instead of warning Caballero first is the basis for QOCN.

The box score erroneously credited the ejection to Wolcott; video evidence indicates it was Johnson's.

This is the 73rd ejection report of the 2026 MLB regular season.

This is the 15th coach ejection of 2026. Ejection Tally: 38 Managers, 15 Coaches, 20 Players.

This is New York's 7th ejection of 2026, 1st in the AL East (NYY 7; BOS 6; TB, TOR 3; BAL 2).

This is James Rowson's 1st ejection since June 7, 2025 (Bruce Dreckman; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Adrian Johnson's 2nd ejection of 2026, 1st since April 18 (Kyle Snyder; QOC = N [Denied ABS]).

Wrap: Pittsburgh Pirates vs New York Yankees, 7/22/26 | Video as follows:

MiLB Ejection on Non-Interference with 2 Outs in 9th

An interference no-call when a runner collided with a fielder attempting to field a batted ball with 2 outs in the 9th allowed Double-A's Senators to tie its game with the Eerie SeaWolves, resulting in ejection and extending the minor league game that was ultimately decided in the 10th inning.

3B Umpire Brandon Spevak ejected SeaWolves manager Tony Cappuccilli for arguing the non-interference call when Senators batter Johnathon Thomas singled on a ground ball past third base. Senators baserunner R2 Maxwell Romero Jr, running into third base, collided with SeaWolves third baseman EJ Exposito, allowing the ball to trickle by while Romero scored and Thomas advanced to second base. At the time of the ejection, the Senators had just tied the game at 2-2. The SeaWolves ultimately won the contest, 3-2, in 10 innings.

The relevant rule is Official Baseball Rule 6.01(a)(10): "Any runner is out when—they fail to avoid a fielder who is attempting to field a batted ball, or intentionally interfere with a thrown ball."

Is there an exception, however, to this rule when a runner is either in contact with or running toward a base?

The answer is no. On a batted ball, the fielder has the right to field it.

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

Bear in mind, only one fielder is deemed 'protected' during a batted ball, which is an umpire's determination as to which fielder is entitled to field the ball. A non-protected fielder may be guilty of obstruction if they impede the runner.

There is one exception during which the base is a safe space when it comes to questions of batted ball interference: "If a runner is touching their base when touched by an Infield Fly, they are not out, although the batter is out" (OBR 5.07(b)(7)).

Other than that, however, the base is not a safe space and this is interference. Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 072 - Dan Iassogna (2; Oliver Marmol)

3B Umpire Dan Iassogna ejected Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol (Replay Review decision that confirmed HP Umpire Adam Beck's HBP call to Michael Harris; QOCY) in the top of the 9th inning of the #Cardinals-#Braves game. With two out and one on, Braves batter Harris took a 0-2 sinker from Cardinals pitcher JoJo Romero, ruled a hit-by-pitch by HP Umpire Beck and confirmed via Replay Review as the result of a manager's challenge by Cardinals manager Marmol. Replays indicate the pitch touched the batter, the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 3-3. The Braves ultimately won the contest, 4-3.

This is Dan Iassogna (58)'s 2nd ejection of 2026.

This is the 72nd ejection report of the 2026 MLB regular season.

This is the 38th manager ejection of 2026. Ejection Tally: 38 Managers, 14 Coaches, 20 Players.

This is St Louis' 2nd ejection of 2026, 2nd in the NL Central (PIT 5; CHC 3; CIN, STL 2; MIL 0).

This is Oliver Marmol's 2nd ejection of 2026, 1st since June 13 (Adam Beck; QOC = Y [ABS Call]).

This is Dan Iassogna's 2nd ejection of 2026, 1st since May 5 (Framber Valdez; QOC = U [Throwing At]).

Wrap: Atlanta Braves vs St Louis Cardinals, 7/12/26 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 071 - Adam Hamari (1; Steven Souza)

3B Umpire Adam Hamari ejected Padres hitting coach Steven Souza (ABS challenge denial by HP Umpire Jen Pawol to Sung-Mun Song; QOCN) in the bottom of the 2nd inning of the #BlueJays-#Padres game. With one out and the bases loaded, Padres batter Song took a 3-0 fastball from Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman for a called first strike. Song then attempted to challenge the call, but the request was denied by HP Umpire Pawol. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the heart of home plate and at the hollow beneath the knee (px -0.15, pz 1.58 [sz_bot 1.61 / RAD 1.49]), but that the challenge was timely, the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Padres were leading, 2-1. The Padres ultimately won the contest, 5-4.

This is Adam Hamari (78)'s 1st ejection of 2026.

*The strike call was correct, but the decision to deny the challenge request was incorrect.

One batter later, Pawol called a balk on Blue Jays pitcher Gausman for taking a second step during delivery in Set Position. Gausman had failed to declare he was pitching in Windup Position (feet were in 'Hybrid' and parallel to the rubber) prior to that particular at-bat, meaning he was presumed to be pitching in Set Position, making the second step (the step back) illegal.

This is the 71st ejection report of the 2026 MLB regular season.

This is the 14th coach ejection of 2026. Ejection Tally: 37 Managers, 14 Coaches, 20 Players.

This is San Diego's 6th ejection of 2026, 3rd in the NL West (SD 6; SF 4; ARI 1; COL, LAD 0).

This is Steven Sousa's 1st ejection since Sept 6, 2018 (Mark Ripperger; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Adam Hamari's 1st ejection since July 6, 2025 (John Mallee; QOC = N [Out of Base Path]).

Wrap: Toronto Blue Jays vs San Diego Padres, 7/12/26 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 070 - Lance Barksdale (1; Tony Vitello)

HP Umpire Lance Barksdale ejected Giants manager Tony Vitello (balk call; QOCY) in the top of the 3rd inning of the #Rockies-#Giants game. With none out and one on, Giants pitcher Tyler Mahle was called for a balk, resulting in Rockies baserunner R3 Brett Sullivan being awarded home. Replays indicate Mahle took a second step toward home plate while appearing to pitch from Set Position without declaring his intent to use Hybrid and pitch from Windup Position, the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the Rockies were leading, 1-0. the Giants ultimately won the contest, 4-2.

This is Lance Barksdale (23)'s 1st ejection of 2026.

*Official Baseball Rule 5.07(a)(2): "With a runner or runners on base, a pitcher will be presumed to be pitching from the Set Position if they stand with their pivot foot in contact with and parallel to the pitcher’s plate, and their other foot in front of the pitcher’s plate, unless they notify the umpire that they will be pitching from the Windup Position under such circumstances prior to the beginning of an at-bat."

OBR 5.07(a): "The pitcher may not take a second step toward home plate with either foot or otherwise reset their pivot foot in their delivery of the pitch. If there is a runner, or runners, on base it is a balk under Rule 6.02(a); if the bases are unoccupied it should be treated as an illegal pitch under Rule 6.02(b)."

This is the 70th ejection report of the 2026 MLB regular season.

This is the 37th manager ejection of 2026. Ejection Tally: 37 Managers, 13 Coaches, 20 Players.

This is San Francisco's 4th ejection of 2026, 3rd in the NL West (SD 5; SF 4; ARI 1; COL, LAD 0).

This is Tony Vitello's 2nd ejection of 2026, 1st since April 5 (David Rackley; QOC = Y-c [Run Lane INT]).

This is Lance Barksdale's 1st ejection since June 18, 2024 (Bud Black; QOC = U [Check Swing]).

Wrap: Colorado Rockies vs San Francisco Giants, 7/11/26 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 069 - Willie Traynor (1; Torey Lovullo)

HP Umpire Willie Traynor ejected Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo (step balk call on Jose Cabrera; QOCY) in the bottom of the 5th inning of the #Diamondbacks-#Padres game. With one out and two on, with Xander Bogaerts at bat, Diamondbacks pitcher Cabrera was called for a balk, advancing baserunner Fernando Tatis to 3B and Jackson Merrill to 2B. Replays indicate Cabrera failed to step toward second base before throwing to the base, the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Padres were leading, 2-1. The Padres ultimately won the contest, 10-4.

This is Willie Traynor (45)'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."

This is the 69th ejection report of the 2026 MLB regular season.

This is the 36th manager ejection of 2026. Ejection Tally: 36 Managers, 13 Coaches, 20 Players.

This is Arizona's 1st ejection of 2026, 3rd in the NL West (SD 5; SF 3; ARI 1; COL, LAD 0).

This is Torey Lovullo's 1st ejection since August 12, 2025 (Nate Tomlinson; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Willie Traynor's 1st ejection since August 26, 2025 (Jesús Luzardo; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Arizona Diamondbacks vs San Diego Padres, 7/8/26 | Video as follows:

HP Umpire Doug Eddings ejected Yankees manager Aaron Boone and bench coach Brad Ausmus (Replay Review denial because New York took too long to challenge; QOCY) in the top of the 6th inning of the #Yankees-#Rays game. With none out and one on, Yankees batter Paul Goldschmidt swung and missed at a 2-2 changeup from Rays pitcher Shane McLanahan as Yankees baserunner R1 José Caballero attempted to steal second base, thrown out by Rays catcher Nick Fortes to 2B Ben Williamson, ruled out by 2B Umpire Emil Jimenez. Crew Chief Eddings then denied Boone's request to file a manager's challenge, ruling that Boone exceeded the allotted time limit to initiate a challenge. Replays indicate Boone signaled for the challenge by placing his hands on his ears approximately 17 seconds after the conclusion of 2B Umpire Jimenez's out call, the denial call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Rays were leading, 2-0. The Rays ultimately won the contest, 3-0.