Since assuming the role of New York Yankees manager in 2018, Aaron Boone has experienced 35 ejections from MLB games. However, his latest expulsion on Monday brought a new twist to the scenario.
During the Yankees’ match against the Oakland Athletics, just five pitches into the game, home-plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt delivered a clear warning to Boone after a dispute over a hit-by-pitch call. He explicitly stated that Boone would be ejected if he uttered another word.
Shortly thereafter, Boone found himself ejected when Wendelstedt heard what he perceived as a shout directed at him. Curiously, the supposed offending words seemed to emanate from a fan in the stands rather than the Yankees’ manager himself.
“It’s embarrassing, just not good,” Boone said after the game, per MLB.
“I really didn’t even go after Hunter. I was more upset at the appeal. I said, ‘Hunter, you can call it, too.’ He came back at me pretty hard to which I didn’t respond. I just said, ‘OK.’”
According to sources at CNN, it is customary for MLB to scrutinize all ejections and peculiar on-field incidents, with any potential disciplinary measures subsequently announced by the league.