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Three Players Ejected Before First Pitch After National Anthem Standoff

The third‑base umpire used his delay‑of‑game authority to end the pregame stunt, a move that signals stricter enforcement of MLB's pace‑of‑play expectations.

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An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows A Los Angeles Angels pitcher wearing jersey number 37 and a red cap, Image 2 shows Tampa Bay Rays player throwing a baseball
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Overview

  • Teams exchanged a lighthearted 'anthem standoff' at Tropicana Field on May 30 when Angels reliever Brent Suter and Rays pitchers Steven Wilson and Manuel Rodríguez stayed on the field after the national anthem.
  • Third‑base umpire Lance Barrett calmly ejected the three players before Drew Rasmussen threw the first pitch, and the game began on schedule.
  • The incident had little competitive impact because Suter had pitched the previous night and Wilson and Rodríguez were on the Rays' injured list.
  • At least one report said MLB did not impose further penalties beyond the in‑game ejections, and the ejections did not change either team's active roster.
  • The episode fits a recent pattern of league and umpire focus on reducing pregame delays, and it may discourage future anthem standoffs by showing officials will enforce pace‑of‑play rules.