MLB Ejections 104-5 - Erich Bacchus (1-2; LAA x2)

HP Erich Bacchus ejected Angels interim manager Ray Montgomery (strike three call to Luis Rengifo; QOCN) in the top and coordinator of run production Tim Laker (ball one call to Luis Torrens; QOCY) in the bottom of the 8th inning of the #Angels-#Mets game. In the top of the 8th, with two out and two on, Angels batter Rengifo took called first, second, and third strikes from Mets pitcher Edwin Diaz. Replays indicate none of the called strikes to Rengifo were located within the strike zone (px values 1.11, -1.00, and -1.04), the call was incorrect.* In the bottom, Mets batter Luis Torrens took a 0-1 slider from Angels pitcher Jake Eder for a called first ball. Replays indicate the pitch was located off the plate, the call was correct. At the time of the ejections, the Mets were leading, 6-3. The Mets ultimately won the contest, 6-3.

These are Erich Bacchus (12)'s 1st and 2nd ejections of 2025.

*These pitches were located outside, the closest 1.03 inches from QOCY & the farthest 2.35" away.

These are the 104th and 105th ejection reports of the 2025 MLB regular season.

This is the 16th coach ejection of 2025.

This is the 56th manager ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 56 Managers, 16 Coaches, 33 Players.

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

This is Ray Montgomery's 2nd ejection of 2025, 1st since July 7 (Brock Ballou; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Tim Laker's 1st ejection since August 21, 2024 (Mike Estabrook; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Erich Bacchus' 1st ejection since August 21, 2024 (Mark Kotsay; QOC = Y [Replay Review]).

Box: Los Angeles Anaheim of Angels vs New York Mets of New York, 7/23/25 | Video as follows:

Narváez Called for CI for 2nd Day in a Row - Balk Too!

Called for catcher's interference one day earlier, Red Sox catcher Carlos Narváez again committed CI, this time with a side of balk as HP Umpire Edwin Jimenez ruling he stepped in front of the back edge of home plate prior during a pitch and prior to receiving the ball as Phillies runner Bryce Harper looked to steal home plate.

Catcher's interference is defined more broadly as defensive interference in the Official Baseball Rules: "an act by a fielder that hinders or prevents a batter from hitting a pitch." In high school (NFHS), catcher's interference is called catcher's obstruction, as NFHS defensive interference is specifically an act that occurs prior to the pitch.

Official Baseball Rule 6.01(g) directly addresses this case of the so-called catcher's balk: "If, with a runner on third base and trying to score by means of a squeeze play or a steal, the catcher or any other fielder steps on, or in front of home base without possession of the ball, or touches the batter or their bat, the pitcher shall be charged with a balk, the batter shall be awarded first base on the interference and the ball is dead."

Video as follows:

Phillies Win on Walk-Off Catcher's Interference

A walk-off win due to catcher's interference in Philadelphia left some Boston fans perplexed as Phillies batter Edmundo Sosa's bat made contact with Red Sox catcher Carlos Narváez during a 2-2 pitch, HP Umpire Quinn Wolcott announcing Replay Review's verdict over the stadium PA much to the delight of the home crowd. Because the bases were loaded at the time of the interference, all runners advanced and the tied game ended in the 10th inning.

Catcher's interference is defined more broadly as defensive interference in the Official Baseball Rules: "an act by a fielder that hinders or prevents a batter from hitting a pitch." In high school (NFHS), catcher's interference is called catcher's obstruction, as NFHS defensive interference is specifically an act that occurs prior to the pitch.

OBR 6.01(c) specifies the penalty for catcher's interference: "The batter becomes a runner and is entitled to first base without liability to be put out (provided they advance to and touches first base) when the catcher or any fielder interferes with them."

It is a rules myth that the batter must actually legitimately swing for catcher's interference to be called. For instance, catcher's interference also occurs when a catcher steps on or across home plate prior to the pitch's arrival, whether or not the batter actually swings at the pitch. Instead, catcher's interference occurs when the catcher's physical positioning (of body and/or glove/mitt) deprives the batter of the opportunity to choose whether to swing or not.

Because batter Sosa is said to have been deprived of this freedom of choice by virtue of the bat-mitt contact, the Replay Official overturned the on-field no-call and awarded the interference penalty, resulting in a walk-off win.

Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 103 - Phil Cuzzi (2; Ryan O'Hearn)

3B Umpire Phil Cuzzi ejected Orioles 1B Ryan O'Hearn (check swing strike three call) in the top of the 9th inning of the #Orioles-#Guardians game. With none out and none on, Orioles batter O'Hearn attempted to check his swing on a 1-2 slider from Guardians pitcher Hunter Gaddis, ruled a ball by HP Umpire Dan Bellino and called a swinging strike on appeal by 3B Umpire Cuzzi. At the time of the ejection, the Guardians were leading, 10-5. The Guardians ultimately won the contest, 10-5.

This is Phil Cuzzi (10)'s 2nd ejection of 2025.

This is the 103rd ejection report of the 2025 MLB regular season.

This is the 33rd player ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 55 Managers, 15 Coaches, 33 Players.

This is Baltimore's 5th ejection of 2025, 3rd in the AL East (NYY 8; BOS 6; BAL 5; TOR 4; TB 3).

This is Ryan O'Hearn's 1st ejection since August 21, 2024 (Marvin Hudson; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Phil Cuzzi's 2nd ejection of 2025, 1st since May 26 (Javier Báez; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Box: Baltimore Orioles vs Cleveland Guardians, 7/21/25 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 102 - Chad Whitson (2; Justin Verlander)

HP Umpire Chad Whitson ejected Giants bench player/pitcher Justin Verlander (strike calls to Brett Wisely; QOCN) in the top of the 6th inning of the #Giants-#BlueJays game. With two out and one on, Giants batter Wisely took a 2-0 fastball and 3-1 curveball from Blue Jays pitcher Braydon Fisher, ruled strikes one and two. Replays indicate the 2-0 pitch was located off the outer edge of home plate and belt high (px -0.92, pz 3.23 [sz_top 3.38]) and the 3-1 pitch was located off the outer edge of home plate and thigh high (px -0.97, pz 2.49), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Blue Jays were leading, 7-4. The Blue Jays ultimately won the contest, 7-6.

This is Chad Whitson (61)'s 2nd ejection of 2025.

*The 2-0 pitch was located 0.02 & the 3-1 was 0.67 horizontal inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 102nd ejection report of the 2025 MLB regular season.

This is the 32nd player ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 55 Managers, 15 Coaches, 32 Players.

This is San Francisco's 4th ejection of 2025, 2nd in the NL West (SD 6; ARI, SF 4; LAD 3; COL 1).

This is Justin Verlander's 1st ejection since August 27, 2019 (Pat Hoberg; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Chad Whitson's 2nd ejection of 2025, 1st since June 2 (Barry Enright; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Box: San Francisco Giants vs Toronto Blue Jays, 7/20/25 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejections 100-1 - James Hoye (3-4; BAL x2)

HP Umpire James Hoye ejected Orioles RF Rámon Laureano and interim manager Tony Mansolino (check swing strike three call by 1B Umpire John Libka) in the top of the 3rd inning of the #Orioles-#Rays game. With one out and one on, Orioles batter Laureano attempted to check his swing on a 1-2 cutter from Rays pitcher Ryan Pepiot, ruled a ball by HP Umpire Hoye and called a swinging third strike on appeal by 1B Umpire Libka. At the time of the ejection, the Orioles were leading, 4-0. The Orioles ultimately won the contest, 5-3.

  

These are James Hoye (92)'s 3rd and 4th ejections of 20255.

*This pitch was located 1.02 vertical inches from being deemed incorrect.

These are the 100th and 101st ejection reports of the 2025 MLB regular season.

This is the 31st player ejection of 2025.

This is the 55th manager ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 55 Managers, 15 Coaches, 31 Players.

This is Baltimore's 4th ejection of 2025, 3rd in the AL East (NYY 8; BOS 6; BAL, TOR 4; TB 3).

This is Rámon Laureano's 2nd ejection of 2025, 1st since May 14 (Jame Hoye; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Tony Mansolino's first career MLB ejection.

This is James Hoye's 3/4th ejection of 2025, 1st since May 14 (Ramon Laureano; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes])

Box: Baltimore Orioles vs Tampa Bay Rays, 7/20/25 | Video as follows:

Little Turf Means It's a Trap & Tag Attempt Base Path Plays

Consecutive plays confused Tigers manager AJ Hinch as Replay upheld a no catch/trap call on Rangers batter Kyle Higashioka's line drive to Riley Greene before 2B Umpire Alfonso Márquez ruled an out of the base path infraction did not occur when runner Higashioka avoided Detroit fielder Javier Báez's tag attemp on Jonah Heim's ground ball, resulting in an error. Let's review.

We begin with one out and none on in the bottom of the 3rd inning with Higashioka's line drive to left fielder Greene, ruled no catch by 3B Umpire Carlos Torres and challenged by Detroit. Replay Review returned a "call stands" verdict, deeming that video evidence was not clear or convincing to suggest the call's quality of correctness. 

The TV broadcast pondered what would happen if half of the ball was cleanly caught by the glove while the other half bounced off the turf. The Official Baseball Rules' definition of catch states, "A CATCH is the act of a fielder in getting secure possession in their hand or glove of a ball in flight and firmly holding it; providing they do not use their cap, protector, pocket or any other part of their uniform in getting possession."

Because "IN FLIGHT describes a batted, thrown, or pitched ball which has not yet touched the ground or some object other than a fielder," a half-glove, half-ground situation would not qualify as a catch.

On the very next play, Rangers batter Heim hit a ground ball to Báez, who attempted to tag baserunner R1 Higashioka before ultimately throwing to first base (an overthrow for an error). 2B Umpire Márquez ruled R1 Higashioka did not run out of his base path, explaining to a befuddled manager Hinch there was no tag attempt.

Although replays indicate there actually was a tag attempt later in the sequence, OBR 5.09(b)(1) states, "Any runner is out when they run more than three feet away from their base path to avoid being tagged unless their action is to avoid interference with a fielder fielding a batted ball. A runner’s base path is established when the tag attempt occurs and is a straight line from the runner to the base they are attempting to reach safely."

Because the runner already ran to the right field side of the baseline between first and second base prior to the fielder's tag attempt, R1's base path was established from this point and, therefore, he did not run more than three feet away from his base path to avoid the tag (even if he ran more than three feet away from the baseline...just not his personal base path).

Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 099 - Brennan Miller (2; Oliver Marmol)

HP Umpire Brennan Miller ejected Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol (ball three call to Jurickson Profar; QOCY) in the top of the 9th inning of the #Braves-#Cardinals game. With none out and one on, Braves batter Profar took a 2-2 slider from Cardinals pitcher Ryan Helsley for a called third ball. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer half of home plate and above the midpoint (px -0.41, pz 3.47 [sz_top 3.34 / RAD 3.46]), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Cardinals were leading, 5-4. The Cardinals ultimately won the contest, 5-4.

  

This is Brennan Miller (55)'s 2nd ejection of 2025.

*This pitch was located 1.02 vertical inches from being deemed incorrect.

This is the 99th ejection report of the 2025 MLB regular season.

This is the 54th manager ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 54 Managers, 15 Coaches, 30 Players.

This is St Louis' 4th ejection of 2025, 1st in the NL Central (CHC 6; PIT, STL 4; CIN 3; MIL 2).

This is Oliver Marmol's 4th ejection of 2025, 1st since May 23 (Ron Kulpa; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Brennan Miller's 2nd ejection of 2025, 1st since March 31 (Rickie Weeks; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Box: Atlanta Braves vs St Louis Cardinals, 7/13/25 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 098 - Tripp Gibson (2; John Schneider)

HP Umpire Tripp Gibson ejected Blue Jays manager John Schneider (Replay Review decision that upheld 3B Umpire Brian Walsh's foul ball [no home run] call) in the top of the 5th inning of the #BlueJays-#Athletics game. With two outs and none on, Blue Jays batter Davis Schneider hit a 0-0 cutter from A's pitcher Jeffrey Springs for a fly ball beyond the left field corner, out of the playing field in air, originally ruled a foul ball by 3B Umpire Walsh and upheld as foul/no HR ("call stands") as a result of a challenge by Blue Jays manager Schneider. Replays do not conclusively present clear and convincing evidence to suggest whether this ball was foul or fair, the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the A's were leading, 4-0. The A's ultimately won the contest, 6-3.

  

This is Tripp Gibson (73)'s 2nd ejection of 2025.

*The Replay Official's decision of call stands was correct.

This is the 98th ejection report of the 2025 MLB regular season.

This is the 53rd manager ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 53 Managers, 15 Coaches, 30 Players.

This is Toronto's 4th ejection of 2025, 3rd in the AL East (NYY 8; BOS 6; TOR 4; BAL, TB 3).

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

This is Tripp Gibson's 2nd ejection of 2025, 1st since June 17 (Dave Roberts; QOC = U [Warnings]).

Box: Toronto Blue Jays vs Sacramento Athletics, 7/13/25 | Video as follows:

Red Sox Score Tie-Breaking Run on Obstruction vs Rays

3B Umpire Scott Barry's obstruction call on Rays third baseman Junior Caminero for base blocking broke a 0-0 tie, giving Boston a lead when Red Sox runner Marcelo Mayer found himself seemingly picked off by Tampa Bay catcher Matt Thaiss, only for umpire Barry to quickly reverse course and rule that Caminero impeded baserunner Mayer's return to third base due to improper footing.

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."

Although Rays fielder Caminero was indeed in the act of fielding at the time of obstruction (by virtue of preparing to receive the throw), umpires ruled that he did not need to block the base in order to do so. Because Caminero blocked the base voluntarily and outside the scope of simply fielding the ball/throw, obstruction was the proper call.

Official Baseball Rule 6.01(h)(1) prescribes the penalty for Type 1 (Type B) obstruction: "If a play is being made on the obstructed runner, or if the batter-runner is obstructed before they touch first base...the obstructed runner shall be awarded at least one base beyond the base they had last legally touched before the obstruction." This is why baserunner R3 Mayer scored, rather than remained at third base.

Umpire Barry initially stated "stay here" in regard to Mayer's slide back into third base, as HP Umpire Adam Beck walked up the line, the umpires ultimately applying the proper ruling in OBR 6.01(h)(1) to award the runner his next base.

Video as follows: