HP Umpire Chris Segal ejected Twins manager Derek Shelton for arguing an automated ball/strike system challenge and overturned call (Josh Bell’s walk was OT’d to a strikeout) after Orioles pitcher Ryan Helsley challenged the call. https://www.closecallsports.com/2026/03/mlb-ejection-002-chris-segal-1-derek.html
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Shelton claimed that Helsley took too long to challenge (it’s supposed to be immediate), but replays showed Helsley tapped his hat timely following the ball four call.
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40 Comments
First one for the new season?!? Wooo
Shelton probably saw the second tap and thought that was a late challenge. Which is like saying it's not murder if you shoot somebody a second time after they are already dead.
That going to be a new umpire stat? ABS Challenges vs Overturns?
Ah, the man who knows he's the sharpest bulb and brightest tool in any shed or box. Apropos
In short:
– Pitcher challenges immediately
– Umpire takes a second to notice
– Manager throws a temper tantrum
From everyone in Pittsburgh … what were you thinking, Minnesota?
I expect ABS related ejections to spike and then trail off, and ABS will knock some ejections off. I wonder if the number over the season will actually go down for this, but maybe this will just managers argue calls in the field more than they used to.
I would love to see a Jomboy break down. Is Shelton also upset at the two challenges in one at bat? As in the ump having a bad day?
More likely Shelton didn't want to watch the twins play.
Ump had it right. He tapped right away.
At some point a count down will probably be added to a clock after every call.
It was a timely challenge. It seems foolish for Shelton to get himself ejected over that.
And with have our first stupid ejection of the season… that didnt take long
"He's arguing with the robots. You can't defeat the robots!" – pure gold from the announcer.
YOU CAN’T DEFEAT THE ROBOTS!
Why did I find this funny?
The timing is going to cause problems. Olson not being allowed to challenge because he took a step back first, and Fortes not being allowed to challenge after what was an obvious strike 3 because he put the ball in his glove before tapping.
Twins manager was thrown out of the game.
1-2 seconds after ball hits the glove: Helsley does a single tap to his brim while the umpire's head is still down and just beginning to get out of his crouch.
2-3 seconds after: Helsley adjusts the brim of his hat twice after the single tap likely knocked it out of place.
3-4 seconds after: Helsley double taps his brim after either realizing his catcher didn't challenge or no one saw the single tap.
It was a little quirky. A lot of pitchers go right to their brim to adjust it after a pitch. Helsley's hand went up there after the first pitch too. The signal requirement should be a double tap to the top of the head. Not the brim. Pitcher is the one position of the three that isn't wearing a helmet though. So, I'm sure many of them aren't thrilled about hastily slapping the top of their head. Maybe a new signal option all together should be implemented for pitchers.
What the crap did Shelton do in Pittsburgh to warrant him another managerial job?
Maybe he'll do better than he did with the Pirates?
What an idiot
That whole town is such a joke from the governor to the mayor now their idiot twinkle manager. Wake up sheep can't you see whats happening. Uggg
pitcher tapped and then he tapped again later. second tap would have been late.
"3 balls for Ryan Helsley "
As a Mets fan, I know that sentence all too well.
The Twins got rid of Rocco for this. Gonna be a long season.
Where are all the people who were saying "ABS will eliminate ejections and managers won't have anything to be mad about anymore!!!"?
They were wrong then, and they are wrong now.
We clearly don't need the umpires anymore. Go full ABS with a challenge system for that if it glitches out.
In the words of Greg Brown.
strike called oh my goodness it should be 7 to 8. In the words of Kevin Young unbelievable unbelievable not only was that pitch outside, but it was the way outside the window.
Derek Shelton first ejection as twins manger!
This is going to be a loooong ugly season …
Just make anything below the neck and above the shoe tops a strike. That would speed up the game.
Would it make sense to add to the rule that: if the pitcher leaves the mound after a pitch, they are ineligible to challenge a call? I wonder if the umpire didn’t interpret the first head-tap by the pitcher as a challenge since they started walking in the direction of the dugout.
Wasn't the game with 7 ABS overturned calls?
Who knew?
Wonder what is going to happen if some of the MLB Umpires have a lot of their calls overturned?
i can't wait for an ejection that happens due to an ABS challenge being denied. It's definitely going to happen at some point
Lord have mercy 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
What a year this is going to be. Give it 2-3 years before the dust settles. CCS is BACK!
Still a bs rule and and doesn’t do anh good
I feel like the appeal was made in time, you have to realize with the pitcher follow through It might take them slightly longer to challenge a pitch than it would for the catcher or hitter