Baseball fans have seen it happen many times before: A player mouths off at an umpire and quickly gets ejected.
Arizona Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly gave that scenario a new twist Monday night.
In the eighth inning, Kelly vented his frustration with first-base umpire Brock Ballou, who ejected him. But there’s a catch. Kelly had already been removed from the game for a reliever and was walking off the field.
As Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly was leaving the game, the umpire threw him out anyway.
An ejection while exiting. Is this really necessary? ⚾️👮♂️pic.twitter.com/oxuzzynihh
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) May 16, 2023
Can umpires eject a player who has already left the game? Yes, although it’s certainly not something you see every day.
Kelly was upset over Ballou’s non-swing call on a checked swing minutes earlier. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo had been ejected for arguing that same call.
Torey Lovullo was ejected for arguing this check swing call. pic.twitter.com/DNTOZ9jeJf
— Bally Sports Arizona (@BALLYSPORTSAZ) May 16, 2023
MLB fans found Kelly’s ejection rather pointless.
#toreylovullo getting ejected as well as #merrillkelly which was stupid why would you eject a pitcher who just left the game from pitching. #dbacks win #phx
— Asif Malik (@PHX_USA_Sports) May 16, 2023
What’s the point of ejecting a player if he’s already done for the day
— Brandon (@DaWink33) May 16, 2023
the umpire can feel like he accomplished something for the first time in his entire life
— Matt Rohrbach (@MattTheMoose96) May 16, 2023
Merrill Kelly just got ejected for arguing with the first base ump as he was walking into the dugout. Not sure what that ejection achieves
— Theo Mackie (@theo_mackie) May 16, 2023
[Photo credit: Bally Sports Arizona]
About Arthur Weinstein
Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.