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:

MLB Ejection 018 - Lance Barrett (2; Dustin Kelly)

HP Umpire Lance Barrett ejected Cubs hitting coach Dustin Kelly (strike two call to Nicky Lopez; QOCN) in the top of the 5th inning of the #Cubs-#Pirates game. With none out and none on, Cubs batter Nicky Lopez took a 0-1 slider from Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes for a called second strike before grounding out one pitch later. Replays indicate the 0-1 pitch was located off the outer edge of home plate and thigh-high (px -1.00, pz 2.40), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Pirates were leading, 2-1. The Cubs ultimately won the contest, 8-3.

This is Lance Barrett (94)'s 2nd ejection of 2025.

*This pitch was located 1.03 horizontal inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 18th ejection report of the 2025 MLB regular season.

This is the 5th coach ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 7 Managers, 5 Coaches, 6 Players.

This is Chicago's 1st ejection of 2025, 2nd in the NL Central (STL 2; CHC, MIL 1; CIN, PIT 0).

This is Dustin Kelly's first career MLB ejection.

This is Lance Barrett's 2nd ejection of 2025, 1st since April 27 (Chris Johnson; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates, 5/1/25 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 017 - Derek Thomas (1; David Popkins)

HP Umpire Derek Thomas ejected Blue Jays hitting coach David Popkins (strike three call to Alejandro Kirk; QOCY) in the bottom of the 4th inning of the #RedSox-#BlueJays game. With one out and none on, Blue Jays catcher Kirk took a 0-2 changeup from Red Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer edge of home plate and thigh-high (px 0.75, pz 1.91 [sz_bot 1.49]), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Red Sox were leading, 4-0. The Blue Jays ultimately won the contest, 7-6, in 10 innings.

This is Derek Thomas (53)'s 1st ejection of 2025.

*This pitch was located 1.97 horizontal inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the 17th ejection report of the 2025 MLB regular season.

This is the 4th coach ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 7 Managers, 4 Coaches, 6 Players.

This is Toronto's 3rd ejection of 2025, 1st in the AL East (TOR 3; NYY 2; BAL, TB 1; BOS 0).

This is David Popkins' 1st ejection since April 6, 2024 (Brennan Miller; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Derek Thomas' 1st ejection since July 13, 2024 (Dane Myers; QOC = U [Check Swing]).

Wrap: Boston Red Sox vs Toronto Blue Jays, 4/30/25 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 016 - Bruce Dreckman (1; Oliver Marmol)

HP Umpire Bruce Dreckman ejected Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol (strike one call to Masyn Winn; QOCY) in the top of the 8th inning of the #Cardinals-#Reds game. With none out and none on, Cardinals batter Winn took a 3-0 fastball from Reds pitcher Scott Barlow for a called first strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the inner half of home plate and below the midpoint (px -0.45, pz 3.39 [sz_top 3.37 / RAD 3.49]), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Cardinals were leading, 1-0. The Cardinals ultimately won the contest, 6-0.

This is Bruce Dreckman (1)'s 1st ejection of 2025.

*This pitch was located 2.16 inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the 16th ejection report of the 2025 MLB regular season.

This is the 7th manager ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 7 Managers, 3 Coach, 6 Players.

This is St Louis 2nd ejection of 2025, 1st in the NL Central (STL 2; MIL 1; CHC, CIN, PIT 0).

This is Oliver Marmol's 2nd ejection of 2025, 1st since April 21 (Mark Carlson; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Bruce Dreckman's 1st ejection since August 4, 2023 (Terry Francona; QOC = N [Replay Review]).

Wrap: St Louis Cardinals vs Cincinnati Reds (Game 1), 4/30/25 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 015 - Lance Barrett (1; Chris Johnson)

HP Umpire Lance Barrett ejected Nationals assistant hitting coach Chris Johnson (strike one call to CJ Abrams; QOCN) in the bottom of the 6th inning of the #Mets-Nationals game. With one out and none on, Nationals batter Abrams took a 0-0 slider from Mets pitcher Tylor Megill for a called first strike. Replays indicate the pitcher was located off the outer edge of home plate and thigh-high (px -1.01, pz 2.69), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Mets were leading, 7-1. The Nationals ultimately won the contest, 8-7.

This is Lance Barrett (16)'s 1st ejection of 2025.

*This pitch was located 1.15 inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 15th ejection report of the 2025 MLB regular season.

This is the 3rd coach ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 6 Managers, 3 Coach, 6 Players.

This is Washington's 2nd ejection of 2025, 1st in the NL East (WAS 2; ATL, MIA, NYM, PHI 0).

This is Chris Johnson's 1st ejection since Sept 12, 2023 (Jeremie Rehak; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Lance Barrett's 1st ejection since Sept 3, 2024 (Oliver Marmol; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: New York Mets vs Washington Nationals, 4/27/25 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejections 013-14 - Chris Conroy (1-2; TOR x2)

HP Umpire Chris Conroy ejected Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman in the botom of the 3rd and manager John Schneider (balls/strikes; QOCY) in the top of the 5th inning of the #BlueJays-#Yankees game. In the 3rd, Yankees batter Jasson Domínguez flied out, Oswaldo Cabrera walked, Ben Rice walked, Aaron Judge singled, Cody Bellinger hit an RBI sacrifice fly, Paul Goldschidt walked, Jazz Chisholm walked (RBI), Anthony Volpe walked (RBI), and Austin Wells doubled (3 RBI). Gausman was ejected arguing balls and strikes during a subsequent pitching change. Replays indicate of the callable pitches in the half inning thrown prior to ejection, Conroy officiated 30-of-31 correctly (97% accuracy), the call was correct.

In the 5th, with none out and none on, Blue Jays batter Guerrero took a 1-0 changeup from Yankees pitcher Max Fried for a called first strike. Replays indicate pitch was located over the over the outer edge of home plate and at the hollow of the knee (px 0.66, pz 1.69 [sz_bot 1.60 / RAD 1.48]), the call was correct.* At the time of both ejections, the Yankees were leading, 6-1. The Yankees ultimately won the contest, 11-2.

These are Chris Conroy (98)'s 1st and 2nd ejections of 2025.

*This pitch was located 3.04 horizontal and 3.48 vertical inches from being deemed incorrect.

These are the 13th and 14th ejection reports of the 2025 MLB regular season.

This is the 6th player ejection of 2025. Prior to ejection, Gausman gave up 5 BB, 6 ER in the 3rd inning.

This is the 6th manager ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 6 Managers, 2 Coach, 6 Players.

This is Toronto's 1/2nd ejection of 2025, 1st in the AL East (NYY, TOR 2; BAL, TB 1; BOS 0).

This is Kevin Gausman's 1st ejection since August 4, 2024 (Laz Diaz; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is John Schneider's 1st ejection since Sept 22, 2024 (Nate Tomlinson; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Chris Conroy's 1st ejection since September 17, 2024 (Joe Espada; QOC = N-c [Fair/Foul]).

Wrap: Toronto Blue Jays vs New York Yankees (Game 1), 4/27/25 | Video as follows:

Nats Turn Triple Play on Mets When Umps Don't Make a Call

Washington turned a triple play on New York after 1B Umpire Alfonso Marquez's crew didn't signal whether Mets batter Jesse Winker's line drive was caught by Nationals first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, a somewhat similar play to the recent double play that resulted in minor league manager Jose Moreno's ejection in Double-A...but this is really about umpire positioning.

In DC, with none out and runners on first and second baes, Mets batter Winker hit a line drive to Nats first baseman Lowe, who may or may not have fielded the batted ball on a bounce—New York wouldn't know, because none of the four umpires signaled safe or out for the catch / no catch element of this play.

While the Mets stumbled around in confusion after the no-call, Washington turned a triple play with first baseman Lowe ruled to have caught the batted ball for out number one, runner R2 Brandon Nimmo out at second base on appeal for out number two, and R1 Mark Vientos out at first base for out number three.

Umpire positioning led to a coverage vacuum contributing to the catch/no catch chaos, as 2B Umpire Lance Barrett's starting position outside the fielders with runners on base ran afoul of the MLB Umpire Manual's approved teaching for four-person positioning with runner(s).

This isn't just a problem unique to this game, it's systemic in recent MLB memory, as second base umpires have increasingly opted to work outside even with runners, despite the Manual's instruction and assumption that all second base umpires will work inside (at the cut of the infield grass) with runner(s) on base.

The MLBUM coverage responsibilities chart states that the second base umpire has catch/no catch responsibility for a first baseman ranging to their right on an infield line drive, but when U2 is working outside, they lose their advantageous angle to see the play. With the play going away from U1, this was not 1B Umpire Alfonso Marquez's call to make, so, effectively, no one clearly called in real time a line out, and the resulting confusion led to a Nationals' triple play.

So as we initially opined back when umpires began working outside with runner(s), the starting position of U2 outside is problematic for certain plays with runners on base. This is just the latest example of what happens when U2 starts out with runners instead of playing in.

Video as follows: