MLB Ejection 119 - John Libka (2; Kevin Gausman)

HP Umpire John Bacon ejected Blue Jays bench player/pitcher Kevin Gausman (balls/strikes; QOCU) in the bottom of the 7th inning of the #Dodgers-#BlueJays game.* With none out and none on, Louis Varland and Brendon Little pitching, Dodgers batter Alex Freeland walked, Shohei Ohtani singled, Mookie Betts reached on a fielder's choice, Freddie Freeman walked, Will Smith walked, Max Muncy struck out, Teoscar Hernández hit a sacrifice fly, and Michael Conforto lined out. At the time of the ejection, the Dodgers were leading, 5-1. The Dodgers ultimately won the contest, 5-1.

This is John Libka (84)'s 2nd ejection of 2025.

*This ejection was reported by Sportsnet, but does not appear in the box score.

This is the 119th ejection report of the 2025 MLB regular season.

This is the 37th player ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 62 Managers, 20 Coaches, 37 Players.

This is Toronto's 6th ejection of 2025, 2nd in the AL East (NYY 10; BOS, TOR 6; BAL 5; TB 3).

This is Kevin Gausman's 2nd ejection of 2025, 1st since April 27 (Chris Conroy; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is John Libka's 2nd ejection of 2025, 1st since May 16 (Don Kelly; QOC = U [Check Swing]).

Box: Toronto Blue Jays vs Los Angeles Dodgers, 8/8/25 | There is No Video of This Ejection.

MLB Ejection 118 - Andy Fletcher (1; Mike Tauchman)

3B Umpire Andy Fletcher ejected White Sox RF Mike Tauchman (check swing strike three call) in the bottom of the 6th inning of the #Guardians-#WhiteSox game. With two out and the bases loaded, White Sox batter Tauchman attempted to check his swing on a 1-2 sweeper from Guardians pitcher Matt Festa, ruled a ball by HP Umpire Jansen Visconti and called a swinging strike on appeal by 3B umpire Fletcher. At the time of the ejection, the Guardians were leading, 9-4. The Guardians ultimately won the contest, 9-5.

This is Andy Fletcher (49)'s 2nd ejection of 2025.

This is the 118th ejection report of the 2025 MLB regular season.

This is the 36th player ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 62 Managers, 20 Coaches, 36 Players.

This is Chicago's 4th ejection of 2025, 2nd in the AL Central (MIN 5; CWS 4; DET, KC 2; CLE 0).

This is Mike Tauchman's first career MLB ejection.

This is Andy Fletcher's 2nd ejection of 2025, 1st since May 29 (JP Crawford; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Box: Cleveland Guardians vs Chicago White Sox, 8/8/25 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 117 - Carlos Torres (4; Joshua Miller)

1B Umpire Carlos Torres ejected Astros pitching coach Joshua Miller (check swing ball two call to Otto Lopez) in the bottom of the 6th inning of the #Astros-#Marlins game. With none out and none on, Marlins batter Lopez attempted to check his swing on a 1-0 slider from Astros pitcher Bennett Sousa, ruled a ball by HP Umpire Willie Traynor and affirmed on appeal as no swing by 1B Umpire Torres. At the time of the ejection, the Marlins were leading, 6-4. The Marlins ultimately won the contest, 6-4.

This is Carlos Torres (37)'s 4th ejection of 2025.

This is the 117th ejection report of the 2025 MLB regular season.

This is the 20th coach ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 62 Managers, 20 Coaches, 35 Players.

This is Houston's 2nd ejection of 2025, 4th in the AL West (LAA 5; OAK 4; TEX 3; HOU, SEA 2).

This is Joshua Miller's 1st ejection since Sept 15, 2024 (Dan Iassogna; QOC = Y [Replay Review]).

This is Carlos Torres' 4th ejection of 2025, 1st since May 28 (Terry Francona; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Box: Houston Astros vs Miami Marlins, 8/6/25 | Video as follows:

Jen Pawol is First Woman to Umpire MLB Regular Season Game

Jen Pawol will be the first woman to umpire MLB regular season baseball during the Marlins-Braves game in Atlanta this weekend, a move generations in the making. Here's a brief history of why it took so long and why women and minorities—including Angel Hernandez—had to keep suing professional baseball for a chance to take the field.

Bernice Gera, who in 1972 was the first woman to officiate a minor league game had to file litigation against professional baseball in order to compel the powers that be to allow her onto the field.

At the time, Hall of Fame Umpire Al Barlick allegedly said Gera "belongs in the kitchen — where all women belong, or most of them." Years later, Barlick allegedly told then-minor leaguer Al Clark, "I’ll tell you one thing. As long as I’m alive, there will never be another f*n’ Jew umpire in my league."

Barlick served as a National League supervisor after retirement from umpiring on the field and was partially responsible for hiring decisions. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989, despite his history of purportedly sexist and racist statements.

And THAT level of systemic discrimination has been baseball's rot-from-within for years and decades.

Since then, several women, including Pam Postema who made it all the way to Triple-A in the late 1980s, have been stopped short of the major leagues, though multiple sex discrimination lawsuits filed by Postema and others have resulted in settlements along the way.

When Angel Hernandez sued baseball alleging racially-motivated discrimination in 2017, it served as a turning point in how the league treats marginalized groups working their way through the umpiring ranks. In addition to promotions of minority crew chiefs Alfonso Márquez, Laz Diaz, and Kerwin Danley in the years that followed (after a decades-long gap without a non-white chief), professional baseball changed its hiring outlook, both at the MLB level and the MiLB level, with more diverse classes each year.

If you haven't yet read our analysis of Angel Hernandez's lawsuit against MLB alleging racial discrimination, and discussing baseball's historical trend toward a nearly-universal umpiring underrepresentation of protected classes, you might want to consult the following links:
Related Post: Angel Hernandez, MLB, and Discrimination (Part 1) (7/12/17).
Related Post: Angel Hernandez, MLB, and Discrimination (Part 2) (7/13/17).

Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 116 - Alfonso Márquez (2; Jordan Beck)

HP Umpire Alfonso Márquez ejected Rockies LF Jordan Beck (strike three call; QOCN) in the bottom of the 7th inning of the #Pirates-#Rockies game. With two out and two on, Rockies batter Beck took a 2-2 sinker from Pirates pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer half of home plate and below the hollow beneath the knee (px 0.39, pz 1.51 [sz_bot 1.75 / RAD 1.63 / MOE 1.55]), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Pirates were leading, 8-5. The Pirates ultimately won the contest, 9-5.

This is Alfonso Márquez (72)'s 2nd ejection of 2025.

*This pitch was located 0.48 vertical inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 116th ejection report of the 2025 MLB regular season.

This is the 35th player ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 62 Managers, 19 Coaches, 35 Players.

This is Rockies' 2nd ejection of 2025, 1st in the NL West (SD 7; ARI, SF 4; LAD 3; COL 2).

This is Jordan Beck's first career MLB ejection.

This is Alfonso Márquez's 2nd ejection of 2025, 1st since June 26 (Clayton McCullough; QOC = U [Warnings]).

Box: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Colorado Rockies, 8/3/25 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 115 - John Bacon (4; Mark Kotsay)

HP Umpire John Bacon ejected Athletics manager Mark Kotsay (ball one call to Lourdes Gurriel; QOCN) in the top of the 7th inning of the #Diamondbacks-#Athletics game. With none out and one on, Diamondbacks batter Gurriel took a 0-0 changeup from Athletics pitcher Ben Bowden for a called first ball. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the heart of home plate and at the hollow beneath the knee (px -0.06, pz 1.83 [sz_bot 1.64 / RAD 1.52 / MOE 1.60]), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Diamondbacks were leading, 5-2. The Diamondbacks ultimately won the contest, 7-2.

This is John Bacon (70)'s 4th ejection of 2025.

*This pitch was located 2.76 vertical inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 115th ejection report of the 2025 MLB regular season.

This is the 62nd manager ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 62 Managers, 19 Coaches, 34 Players.

This is ATH's 4th ejection of 2025, 2nd in the AL West (LAA 5; OAK 4; TEX 3; SEA, 2; HOU 1).

This is Mark Kotsay's 2nd ejection of 2025, 1st since May 25 (Roberto Ortiz; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

This is John Bacon's 4th ejection of 2025, 1st since July 6 (Carlos Mendoza; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Box: Arizona Diamondbacks vs 404 City Not Found Athletics, 8/2/25 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 114 - Chris Guccione (2; Miguel Cairo)

HP Umpire Chris Guccione ejected Nationals interim manager Miguel Cairo (check swing strike three call to James Wood) in the bottom of the 6th inning of the #Brewers-#Nationals game. With two out and none on, Nationals batter Wood attempted to check his swing on a 3-2 changeup from Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff, ruled a swinging strike by HP Umpire Guccione. At the time of the ejection, the Brewers were leading, 5-2. The Brewers ultimately won the contest, 8-2. 

This is Chris Guccione (68)'s 2nd ejection of 2025.

This is the 114th ejection report of the 2025 MLB regular season.

This is the 61st manager ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 61 Managers, 19 Coaches, 34 Players.

This is Washington's 5th ejection of 2025, 1st in the NL East (WAS 5; MIA, NYM 3; PHI 2; ATL 1).

This is Miguel Cairo's 2nd ejection of 2025, 1st since July 30 (Ryan Additon; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Chris Guccione's 2nd ejection of 2025, 1st since June 19 (AJ Hinch; QOC = Y [Replay Review]).

Box: Milwaukee Brewers vs Philadelphia Phillies, 8/2/25 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 113 - Vic Carapazza (1; Bryce Harper)

3B Umpire Vic Carapazza ejected Phillies 1B Bryce Harper (check swing strike three call) in the bottom of the 7th inning of the #Tigers-#Phillies game. With two out and two on, Phillies batter Harper attempted to check his swing on a 3-2 slider from Tigers pitcher Will Vest, ruled a ball by HP Umpire Brian Walsh and called a swinging strike on appeal by 3B Umpire Carapazza. At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 3-3. The Phillies ultimately won the contest, 6-5.

This is Vic Carapazza (19)'s 1st ejection of 2025.

This is the 113th ejection report of the 2025 MLB regular season.

This is the 34th player ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 60 Managers, 19 Coaches, 34 Players.

This is Philadelphia's 2nd ejection of 2025, 1st in the NL East (WAS 4; MIA, NYM 3; PHI 2; ATL 1).

This is Bryce Harper's 1st ejection since May 24, 2024 (Brian Walsh; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Vic Carapazza's 1st ejection since August 19, 2024 (Johnny Washington; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Box: Detroit Tigers vs Philadelphia Phillies, 8/1/25 | Video as follows:

MANAGER Hit by Pitch During Ejection Tantrum

Quebec Capitales' manager was hit by a pitch thrown by his pitcher, on purpose, after being ejected by HP Umpire Jordan Alfonso of the Frontier League. Patrick Scalabrini's antics followed Ottawa Titans batter Jackie Urbaez's hit-by-pitch in the 9th inning, Urbaez's fourth HBP of the game.

Scalabrini's lively demonstration suggests an argument concerning whether Urbaez should have really had four HBPs, or whether he failed to follow the rule that would require he attempt to avoid the pitch.

Official Baseball Rule 5.05(b)(2) states, "The batter becomes a runner and is entitled to first base without liability to be put out (provided he advances to and touches first base) when they are touched by a pitched ball which they are not attempting to hit unless (A) The ball is in the strike zone when it touches the batter, or (B) The batter makes no attempt to avoid being touched by the ball."

If the pitch is in the strike zone when it touches the batter, it is a dead ball strike, and if the pitch is out of the zone and touches the batter who makes no attempt to avoid being touched, it is a ball (no award of first base). The batter only gets the base award if they make an attempt to avoid a ball.

Meanwhile, in college, NCAA Rule 7-4-i awards a strike if the batter "is judged to intentionally make a movement to be hit by a pitch, regardless of where the pitch is located; or allows themself to be intentionally hit by a pitch that is not thrown within the boundaries of the batter’s box unless it was not possible to avoid being hit."

High School (NFHS 8-1-d) is similar to professional ball: "If the batter permits the pitched ball to touch oneself (7-3-4), or if the umpire calls the pitched ball a strike, the hitting of the batter is disregarded except that the ball is dead. It is a strike or ball depending on location of the pitch."

Video as follows:

Balk or Ball? When An Umpire Should Ignore a Balk

When is a balk not a balk? Umpires correctly called A's pitcher Jeffrey Springs for a no-stop balk during a 3-2 pitch to Mariners batter Julio Rodríguez, but awarding baserunner R1 Ben Williamson second base was only half of the equation. Instead of Rodríguez awarded first base on ball four (the pitch was low), the crew returned the batter to the plate, where he proceeded to strike out swinging on the next pitch.

We first note Official Baseball Rule 6.02(a)(13) pertaining to balks, which states, "If there is a runner, or runners, it is a balk when the pitcher delivers the pitch from Set Position without coming to a stop."

Because pitcher Springs failed to come to a complete stop while in Set Position, as in OBR 5.07(a)(2), 1B Umpire John Tumpane was correct to call out "balk" when the infraction occurred.

OBR 6.02(a) continues, specifying the penalty for a balk violation: "The ball is dead, and each runner shall advance one base without liability to be put out, unless the batter reaches first on a hit, an error, a base on balls, a hit batter, or otherwise, and all other runners advance at least one base, in which case the play proceeds without reference to the balk."

Although the ball ultimately becomes dead on a balk, if the pitcher pitches, that pitch may still count, as long as it results in the batter-runner reaching first base and all other runners advancing at least one base.

In this situation, the pitch missed low for ball four, which meant that runner R1 Williamson would have been forced to advance to second base, by virtue of batter Rodríguez becoming a runner on the base-on-balls.

But instead of applying the "play proceeds without reference to the balk" portion of the penalty due to both batter and runner advancing at least one base, the umpires enforced the base award for the runner and returned the batter to home plate, where he proceeded to strike out instead of taking his base.

Video as follows: