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. 

Related Post: Obstruction Calls Are 2024's Point of Emphasis (2/14/24).

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:

MLB Ejection 193-4 - Alex MacKay (2-3; PHI x2)

HP Umpire Alex MacKay ejected Phillies 3B Alec Bohm (strike three call; QOCN) in the bottom of the 7th and manager Rob Thomson (strike three call to Bryce Harper; QOCY) in the bottom of the 8th inning of the #Twins-#Phillies game. In the 7th, with two out and the bases loaded, Phillies batter Bohm took a 3-2 fastball from Twins pitcher Caleb Thielbar for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located off the inner edge of home plate and knee-high (px -0.97, pz 2.14), the call was incorrect. At the time of Bohm's ejection, the Twins were leading, 2-0. In the 8th, with none out and none on, Phillies batter Harper took a 2-2 sweeper from Twins pitcher Thielbar 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 -0.76, pz 1.53 [sz_bot 1.65 / RAD 1.53]), the call was correct. At the time of Thomson's ejection, the Twins were leading, 2-0. The Twins ultimately won the contest, 3-0.

These are Alex MacKay (105)'s 2nd and 3rd ejections of 2023.

These are the 193rd and 194th ejection reports of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 80th player ejection of 2023. This is the 88th manager ejection of 2023.

Ejection Tally: 88 Managers, 80 Players, 26 Coaches.

This is Philadelphia's 9th ejection of 2023, 2nd in the NL East (MIA 14; PHI 9; NYM 6; WAS 3; ATL 2).

This is Alec Bohm's first career MLB ejection.

This is Rob Thomson's  3rd ejection of 2023, 1st since June 10 (Bill Miller; QOC = U [Warnings]).

This is Alex MacKay's 2/3rd ejection of 2023, 1st since July 9 (David Ross; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Minnesota Twins vs Philadelphia Phillies, 8/13/23 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 144 - Alex MacKay (1; David Ross)

HP Umpire Alex MacKay ejected Cubs manager David Ross (ball two call to Giancarlo Stanton; QOCY) in the bottom of the 1st inning of the #Cubs-#Yankees game. With none out and one on, Yankees batter Giancarlo Stanton took a 1-0 sinker from Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks for a called second ball. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer edge of home plate and below the hollow of the knee (px -0.78, pz 1.57 [sz_bot 1.74 / RAD 1.62]), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 0-0. The Cubs ultimately won the contest, 7-4.

This is Alex MacKay (105)'s 1st ejection of 2023.

*This pitch was located 1.60 vertical inches from being deemed an incorrect call.

This is the 144th ejection report of the 2023 MLB regular season.

This is the 68th manager ejection of 2023. Ejections: 68 Managers, 59 Players, 17 Coaches.

This is Chicago's 6th ejection of 2023, T-2nd in the NL Central (MIL 7; CHC, STL 6; CIN, PIT 5).

This is David Ross' 4th ejection of 2023, 1st since July 4 (Erich Bacchus; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Alex MacKay's first career MLB ejection.

Wrap: Chicago Cubs vs New York Yankees, 7/9/23 | Video as follows:

Quickie - A Pocket Full of Nothing and the Hanging Tag

When Replay Review overturned a close play at the plate from safe-to-out, HQ's umpire relied on the slimmest of margin's—catcher Salvador Perez's tag of runner Tony Kemp's hanging pocket—to rule an out.

For this particular play, HP Umpire Alex MacKay works the wedge, staying on the catcher's foul-facing hip to see Perez's tag attempt, initially calling baserunner Kemp safe.

However, Replay upon review determined that Perez's mitt tagged the lining of Kemp's back pocket, which was turned inside out as he ran the bases.

To do so, Replay relied on the definitions of TAG and TOUCH which specify that a tag shall be considered legal if any part of the uniform is touched by the fielder's glove (not including its laces). Furthermore, Official Baseball Rule 5.05(b)(2) states a touch has not occurred if the ball (or, in this case, glove/mitt) "only touches any jewelry being worn by a player," similar in vein to the TAG definition stating "not including hanging laces alone" and "For purposes of this definition any jewelry being worn by a player (e.g., necklaces, bracelets, etc.) shall not constitute a part of the player’s body."

Finally, TOUCH is defined as follows: "To touch a player or umpire is to touch any part of their body, or any uniform or equipment worn by them (but not any jewelry (e.g., necklaces, bracelets, etc.) worn by a player)."

Video as follows:

MLB Debut of Umpire Alex MacKay

Umpire Alex MacKay made his MLB debut during Friday night's Twins-Royals game in Kansas City alongside Crew Chief Jerry Meals and umpires Jeremie Rehak and Ed Hickox.

MacKay joins the major leagues by way of the MiLB Umpire Academy and stops in the Florida Instructional, Pioneer, Florida State, Southern and Pacific Coast Leagues.

He officiated the 2017 Southern League All-Star Game in Florida and 2018 Southern League All-Star Game in Birmingham.

MacKay becomes the 14th rookie debut during MLB's shortened 2020 season.
Related Post: MLB Debut of Umpire David Arrieta (8/21/20).

Related Post: MLB Debut of Umpire Paul Clemons (8/19/20).

Related Post: MLB Debut of Umpire Malachi Moore (8/17/20).
Related Post: MLB Debut of Umpire Nestor Ceja (8/14/20).
Related Post: MLB Debut of Umpire Clinton "Clint" Vondrak (8/10/20).
Related Post: MLB Debut of Umpire Nate Tomlinson (8/7/20).
Related Post: MLB Debut of Umpire Erich Bacchus (8/7/20).
Related Post: MLB Debut of Umpire Adam Beck (8/5/20).

Related Post: MLB Debut of Umpire Randy Rosenberg (8/4/20).

Related Post: MLB Debut of Umpire Lewis "Lew" Williams III (8/2/20).

Related Post: MLB Debut of Umpire Jeremy Riggs (7/28/20).

Related Post: MLB Debut of Umpire Jose Navas (7/24/20)

Related Post: MLB Debut of Umpire Edwin Moscoso (7/23/20).