MLB Ejection 010 - John Bacon (2; Jazz Chisholm)

HP Umpire John Bacon ejected Yankees 2B Jazz Chisholm (strike three call; QOCN) in the top of the 7th inning of the #Yankees-#Rays game. With one out and one on, Yankees batter Chisholm took a 3-2 fastball from Rays pitcher Mason Montgomery for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer half of home plate and below of the hollow of the knee (px -0.60, pz 1.47 [sz_bot 1.68 / RAD 1.56 / MOE 1.48]), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Yankees were leading, 6-3. The Yankees ultimately won the contest, 6-3.

This is John Bacon (70)'s 2nd ejection of 2025.

*This pitch was located 0.12 vertical inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 10th ejection report of the 2025 MLB regular season.

This is the 5th player ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 3 Managers, 2 Coach, 5 Players.

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

This is Jazz Chisholm's 1st ejection since April 30, 2024 (Jansen Visconti; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).
This is John Bacon's 2nd ejection of 2025, 1st since April 13 (Brandon Hyde; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: New York Yankees vs Tampa Bay Rays, 4/17/25 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 009 - Paul Clemons (1; Alec Zumwalt)

HP Umpire Paul Clemons ejected Royals hitting coach Alec Zumwalt (strike two call to Bobby Witt Jr; QOCY) in the top of the 9th inning of the #Royals-#Tigers game. With two out and none on, Royals batter Witt Jr took a 1-1 fastball from Tigers pitcher Tommy Kahnle for a called second strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer half of home plate and at the hollow of the knee (px 0.40, pz 1.56 [sz_bot 1.68 / RAD 1.56]), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Tigers were leading, 6-1. The Tigers ultimately won the contest, 6-1.

This is Paul Clemons (57)'s 1st ejection of 2025.

*This pitch was located 1.00 vertical inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the 9th ejection report of the 2025 MLB regular season.

This is the 2nd coach ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 3 Managers, 2 Coach, 4 Players.

This is Kansas City's 1st ejection of 2025, 1st in the AL Central (KC, MIN 1; CWS, CLE, DET 0).

This is Alec Zumwalt's first career MLB ejection.

This is Paul Clemons' 1st ejection since August 26, 2024 (Wilyer Abreu; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Kansas City Royals vs Detroit Tigers, 4/17/25 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 008 - Ron Kulpa (1; Jorge López)

HP Umpire Ron Kulpa ejected Nationals pitcher Jorge López (throwing at Pirates batter Andrew McCutchen) in the bottom of the 7th inning of the #Nationals-#Pirates game. With two out and none on, Pirates batter Bryan Reynolds took a first-pitch sinker from Nationals pitcher López for a hit-by-pitch. Ensuing Pirates batter McCutchen then took a 0-1 slider from Nationals pitcher López for a ball. Replays indicate the pitch was located head-high and inside, the call was irrecusable. Warnings had not previously been issued. At the time of the ejection, the Pirates were leading, 2-0. The Pirates ultimately won the contest, 6-1.

This is Ron Kulpa (46)'s 1st ejection of 2025.

Official Baseball Rule 6.02(c)(9) Comment (Intentionally Pitch at Batter): "To pitch at a batter’s head is unsportsmanlike and highly dangerous. It should be—and is—condemned by everybody. Umpires should act without hesitation in enforcement of this rule."

This is the 8th ejection report of the 2025 MLB regular season.

This is the 4th player ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 3 Managers, 1 Coach, 4 Players.

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

This is Jorge López's 1st ejection since May 29, 2024 (Ramon De Jesus; QOC = U [Check Swing]).

This is Ron Kulpa's 1st ejection since July 21, 2023 (Alec Burleson; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Washington Nationals vs Pittsburgh Pirates, 4/16/25 | Video as follows:

Broadcasters Baffled by Balk as Mets Throw Off Base

When A's pitcher José Leclerc threw to third baseman Gio Urshela playing off of third base, 3B Umpire Nick Mahrley called a balk, leading Mets broadcaster Gary Cohen to declare, "That's a bad call." Fact Check: It was the correct call, as an uncovered base is treated differently by baseball's balk rules.

With one out and one on (R3), A's pitcher Leclerc threw to third baseman Baty to try and hold Mets baserunner R3 Tyrone Taylor at third base. Baty was not covering third base at the time and the throw was directed to him, not to the base. Accordingly, 3B Umpire Mahrley ruled a balk for violation of Official Baseball Rule 6.02(a)(2), and awarded Taylor home, scoring a run, bringing A's manager Mark Kotsay out of the dugout to argue.

OBR 6.02(a)(2) states, "if there is a runner, or runners, it is a balk when the pitcher, while touching their plate, feints a throw to first or third base and fails to complete the throw."

We then reference the MLB Umpire Manual interpretation of this rule, which states, "The pitcher shall be charged with a balk if, while in contact with the rubber, they throw to a fielder who is either in front of or behind first or third base and obviously not making an attempt at retiring the runner at that base. However, there is no violation if the pitcher throws the ball directly to first or third base in this situation."

Flashback: On August 10, 2008, 1B Umpire Tim Welke called a balk when Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte threw to unsuspecting first baseman Richie Sexson playing in for a bunt attempt, resulting in Angels baserunner Chone Figgins advancing to second base (and R2 Mike Napoli to third).

Thus, when pitcher Leclerc threw to fielder Baty off of third base but not anticipating the throw in an attempt to retire the runner at third base, he violated OBR 6.02(a)(2) by failing to complete a throw directly to third base, instead throwing to a fielder not at the base.

It is important to note that OBR 6.02(a)(2) applies to first and third base, but not second base. Had this play occurred at second base, it would not have been a violation of the balk rule.

Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 007 - John Bacon (1; Brandon Hyde)

HP Umpire John Bacon ejected Orioles manager Brandon Hyde (strike three call; QOCY) in the bottom of the 3rd inning of the #BlueJays-#Orioles game. With one out and one on, Orioles batter Jordan Westburg took a 3-2 sinker from Blue Jays pitcher José Berríos for a called strike, as Orioles baserunner R1 Ryan O'Hearn stole second base. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the inner half of home plate and below the hollow of the knee (px -0.50, pz 1.46 [sz_bot 1.61 / RAD 1.49 / MOE 1.41]), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Orioles were leading, 3-2. The Blue Jays ultimately won the contest, 7-6, in 10 innings.

This is John Bacon (70)'s 1st ejection of 2025.

*This pitch was located 0.60 vertical inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the 7th ejection report of the 2025 MLB regular season.

This is the 3rd manager ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 3 Managers, 1 Coach, 3 Players.

This is Baltimore's 1st ejection, T-1st in the AL East (BAL, TB 1; BOS, NYY, TOR 0).

This is Brandon Hyde's 1st ejection since August 7, 2024 (Larry Vanover; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is John Bacon's 1st ejection since April 10, 2024 (Aaron Boone; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Toronto Blue Jays vs Baltimore Orioles, 4/13/25 | Video as follows:

An Ump Bump Ejection in Korea After "Time" Call

A manager bumped an umpire during a KBO League ejection as LG Twins skipper Kyung-Yeop Yeom  charged at 1B Umpire Young-Jae Lee following a force out at second on an uncaught line drive to third base, ruled fair by 3B Umpire Gap-Soo Kim.

After U3 Kim ruled the uncaught batted ball fair, Doosan Bears third baseman Seung-Ho Kang threw the ball to second base to force out Twins baserunner R1 Seong-Joo Moon, as batter-runner Joo-Heon Lee arrived at first base.

As confusion reigned at first base, U1 Lee called "Time" after a request from the Bears first baseman.

Twins manager Yeom exited the dugout to argue that the third base umpire called "Time" during the initial play, but replays indicate none of the umpires did such a thing until U1's "Time" call well after the force out at second base.

During the argument, umpire Lee and manager Yeom continued their heated exchange, culminating in Yeom bumping Lee moments after being ejected by HP Umpire Byeong-du Bae.

The MLB Umpire Manual's situation handling guidelines, for illustration, state, "MLB Umpires should remain calm, confident, and non-confrontational in order to maintain an appearance of fairness and impartiality," while Official Baseball Rule 6.04(d), pertaining to unsportsmanlike conduct, states, "When a manager, player, coach or trainer is ejected from a game, they shall leave the field immediately and take no further part in that game. They shall remain in the clubhouse or change to street clothes and either leave the park or take a seat in the grandstand well removed from the vicinity of their team’s bench or bullpen."

Video as follows:

Mark Ripperger Calls a Perfect Game in KC

MLB Umpire Mark Ripperger called a perfect game in Kansas City, officiating Thursday's #Twins-#Royals game with 136 correct ball/strike calls out of 136 callable pitches thrown for a 100% accuracy plate score.

These numbers reflect postgame adjustment figures and are normalized to both UmpScorecards' and CCS' measurement standards.

This is not Ripperger's first brush with perfection. When Ripperger called A's pitcher Mike Fiers' no-hitter in 2019 for an overall accuracy score of 97.2%, his accuracy for Fiers' pitching was 100% (73/73).

Related Post: 2019 No-Hitter 1, Mark Ripperger (1; Mike Fiers) (5/7/19).

Stats for HP Umpire Mark Ripperger on 4/10/2025

Balls: 89 called balls outside of strike zone / 0 called balls within strike zone = 89/89 = 100% Accuracy.

Strikes: 47 called strikes inside strike zone / 0 called strikes outside strike zone = 47/47 = 100% Accuracy.

Overall Game Score: 89/89 Balls + 47/47 Strikes = 136/136 = 100.0%. +0 Neutral.

Video as follows:

Obstruction Should Have Negated Collision Tag Play in PIT

Pirates 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes' made a heads up play to tag out Cardinals runner Thomas Saggese after 1B Endy Rodriguez and catcher Joey Bart collided in Pittsburgh, but should HP Umpire Lance Barksdale have called obstruction on the fielders lying prostrate in the runner's base path?

In short, "yes" and in long form, here's why:

With two out and runners on first and second base, Cardinals batter Willson Contreras hit a high fly ball in front of home plate, whereupon Pirates fielders Rodriguez and Bart collided, dropping the baseball in the process. As the ball rolled loose, Cardinals baserunner R2 Saggese attempted to score, tagged out by 3B Hayes who picked up the ball and tagged the runner before he slid into home plate.

Barksdale called the runner out instead of ruling obstruction on Pittsburgh, even though Rodriguez and Bart, having misplayed the batted ball, lay strewn across the baseline and directly in the path of R2 Saggese. Had obstruction been called, Saggese would have been awarded home and the inning would have continued, likely with R1 Masyn Winn advancing to third base.

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."

Standing in an advancing runner's path without the ball and not in the act of fielding, thus blocking their direct progress, is very likely obstruction.

As for the act of fielding exemption, this applies to only one fielder: "If two or more fielders attempt to field a batted ball...the umpire shall determine which fielder is entitled to the benefit of this rule" (OBR 6.01(a)(10)). Although this is found in the offensive interference rule, the point about only one fielder receiving act-of-fielding protection applies here, as well.

Furthermore, a fielder is not considered "in the act of fielding" after the fielder attempts to field the ball and misses, which occurred here as well. Thus, this is obstruction, and because the ball was loose at the time of obstruction, it is Type 2 / B: "If no play is being made on the obstructed runner, the play shall proceed until no further action is possible. The umpire shall then call “Time” and impose such penalties, if any, as in their judgment will nullify the act of obstruction" (OBR 6.01(h)(2)), as no play can be considered as being made on a runner (as in OBS Type 1/A) while the ball is loose (e.g., not in the fielder's possession or not being thrown between teammates).

Video as follows:

MLB Ejections 005-6 - Laz Diaz (1-2; ARI x2)

1B Umpire Laz Diaz ejected Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly and manager Torey Lovullo (check swing ball four call to Tyler O'Neill) in the top of the 7th inning of the #Orioles-#Diamondbacks game. With none out and one on, Orioles batter O'Neill attempted to check his swing on a 2-2 slider from Diamondbacks pitcher Kelly, ruled a ball by HP Umpire Brian O'Nora and affirmed as no swing on appeal by 1B Umpire Diaz. At the time of the ejection, the D-backs were leading, 4-2. The Diamondbacks ultimately won the contest, 4-3.

These are Laz Diaz (63)'s 1st and 2nd ejections of 2025.

These are the 5th and 6th ejection reports of the 2025 MLB regular season.

This is the 3rd player ejection of 2025.

This is the 2nd manager ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 2 Managers, 1 Coach, 3 Players.

This is Arizona's 1/2nd ejection of 2025, 1st in the NL West (ARI 2; COL, LAD, SD, SF 0).

This is Merrill Kelly's 1st ejection since May 15, 2023 (Brock Ballou; QOC = U [Check Swing]).

This is Torey Lovullo's 1st ejection since July 22, 2024 (Jordan Baker; QOC = U [Warnings]).

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

Wrap: Baltimore Orioles vs Arizona Diamondbacks, 4/8/25 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 004 - Rob Drake (1; Christopher Morel)

HP Umpire Rob Drake ejected Rays LF Christopher Morel (strike two call; QOCY) in the bottom of the 8th inning of the #Angels-#Rays game. With one out and one on, Rays batter Morel took a 3-1 fastball from Angels pitcher Brock Burke for a called second strike, before striking out swinging on the next pitch. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer edge of home plate and thigh-high (px 0.86, pz 2.55), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 3-3. The Angels ultimately won the contest, 4-3.

This is Rob Drake (8)'s 1st ejection of 2025.

*This pitch was located 0.65 horizontal inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the 4th ejection report of the 2025 MLB regular season.

This is the 2nd player ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 1 Managers, 1 Coach, 2 Players.

This is Tampa Bay's 1st ejection of 2024, 1st in the AL East (TB 1; BAL, BOS, NYY, TOR 0).

This is Christopher Morel's 1st ejection since August 7, 2023 (Ramon De Jesus; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Rob Drake's 1st ejection since July 26, 2024 (Kevin Long; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Anaheim Angels of Los Angeles vs Tampa Bay Rays, 4/8/24 | Video as follows: