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last mo.

Taylor Walls Ejected After Umpire Misreads Helmet Adjustment in Rays’ 1-0 Loss

The ejection highlighted confusion over ABS signaling with the Rays dropping to third in the AL East before their series opener in Texas.

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Overview

  • Home-plate umpire Nic Lentz ejected Walls in the ninth inning after interpreting an unintentional helmet adjustment as a challenge via the Automated Ball-Strike System.
  • Walls said postgame that he was merely frustrated by a seemingly low strike call and had no intent to disrespect the umpire.
  • The Rays fell 1-0 to the Astros on June 1, slipping to 30-29 and into third place in the AL East.
  • Manager Kevin Cash and bench coach Rodney Linares intervened to restrain Walls during a heated argument with Lentz on the field.
  • The incident underscored growing sensitivity around ABS signaling as MLB gears up to implement the system in 2027.