MLB Ejection 013 - Junior Valentine (1; Connor Phillips)

HP Umpire Junior Valentine ejected Reds pitcher Connor Phillips (throwing at Giants batter Willy Adames) in the top of the 8th inning of the #Giants-#Reds game. With two out and two on, Adames took a 0-1 fastball from Phillies for a hit-by-pitch. Replays indicate the pitch was located inside and struck Adames on the left thigh, with the HBP following a 0-0 fastball similarly thrown inside, the call was irrecusable. At the time of the ejection, the Giants were leading, 3-0. The Giants ultimately won the contest, 3-0.

This is Junior Valentine (25)'s 1st ejection of 2026.
Official Baseball Rule 6.02(c)(9) (Intentionally Pitch at Batter): "if, in the umpire's judgment, such a violation occurs, the umpire may elect either to: (A) Expel the pitcher, or the manager and the pitcher from the game, or (B) may warn the pitcher and the manager of both teams that another such pitch will result in the immediate expulsion of that pitcher [or a replacement] and the manager."

This is the 13th ejection report of the 2026 MLB regular season.

This is the 3rd player ejection of 2026. Ejection Tally: 9 Managers, 1 Coaches, 3 Players.

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

This is Connor Phillips' first career MLB ejection.

This is Junior Valentine's 1st ejection since September 10, 2025 (Ryan Goins; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: San Francisco Giants vs Cincinnati Reds, 4/16/26 | Video as follows:

Alternate Link: Giants and Reds clear benches after game ends, following Phillips' earlier HBP ejection