Phillies catcher JT Realmuto was dramatically ejected after a botched ball exchange with the umpire during a spring training game against the Blue Jays.
Phillies catcher JT Realmuto was ejected from his team’s latest spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays for apparently showing off an empire in what appears to be one of the most surprising ejections.
The 32-year-old was ejected from Monday’s game in the fourth inning, following a botched ball exchange with umpire Randy Rosenberg.
Realmuto bowed before raising his glove for a new baseball from home plate umpire Randy Rosenberg.
With his back to the umpire, the catcher paused for a moment and then moved his glove as Rosenberg threw the ball to the ground.
Rosenberg immediately dismissed Realmuto, who seemed to have no idea what had happened as he was left baffled by the interaction.
Phillies catcher JT Realmuto was ejected for an epic performance Monday against Toronto
Confused by the umpire’s decision, Realmuto watched as his manager, Rob Thomson, exited the bullpen to fight the ejection.
Realmuto pumped his fist in the air after throwing out in the fourth inning of Monday’s Phillies win over the Blue Jays
At first, Phillies pitcher Craig Kimbrel was making a fuss about a call, so maybe Rosenberg assumed Realmuto was showing him off by not getting the ball put in his glove instead of what only seems to be a miscommunication between the two men.
‘First time I was ejected. It’s a soft way to throw,’ Realmuto told The Philadelphia Inquirer postgame.
Phillies manager Rob Thomson came out of the bullpen to fight the dismissal of his catcher without success.
‘The umpire felt Realmuto take his glove off and I don’t think Realmuto felt the ball was coming, so he just thought the umpire was throwing it back to the mound,’ Blue Jays play-by-play announcer said Buck Martinez on the broadcast.
Another Toronto color commentator, Ben Wagner, added: ‘In the first exchange the umpire threw it to Kimbrel, so go ahead, you don’t feel the ball in your glove, and he doesn’t even look at the umpire – he just dropped his gloves.’
Realmuto, who represented Team USA in the WBC, was stunned after the Phillies’ 5-2 win.
‘How does he expect me to know he’s giving me the ball there?’ he told The Inquirer. ‘I’m not even looking at him.’
Realmuto then revealed the real reason behind his ejection, saying Rosenberg told him he thought the catcher was mocking him.
“I said, ‘Dude, I thought you were the one throwing the ball,'” Realmuto said. He said, ”I’m not buying that.”’
