There was an uproar at Yankee Stadium when home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt ejected New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone from the game just five pitches into the game.
But fans screaming at Wendelstedt appeared to prompt the veteran referee to eject Boone, who they had exchanged words with just seconds earlier, from the game.
After the Oakland Athletics defeated the Yankees 2-0, Boone met with reporters and called Wendelstedt’s transfer “embarrassing.” He also indicated that the Yankees would contact Major League Baseball about the matter.
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Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees gets into an altercation with home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt #21 in the bottom of the first inning during a game against the Oakland Athletics at Yankee Stadium in New York City on April 22, 2024. . (Mike Stove/Getty Images)
The YES Network broadcast captured the moment Boone was ejected, where, after being warned not to speak, the manager told Wendelstedt to point to the fans behind the dugout and say, “I didn’t say anything nasty.” No,” he begged. .
But Wendelstedt said, “I don’t care who said it. You’re gone!”
Umpire mistakenly ejects Yankees’ Aaron Boone after fans scream from the stands
The broadcast was to show a different angle of the moment Boone was ejected, in which a fan in the front row just behind the Yankees’ dugout can be seen yelling something at Wendelstedt. When Bendelstedt heard this, he immediately reacted.
Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees gets into an altercation with third base umpire Marvin Hudson #51 in the bottom of the first inning during a game against the Oakland Athletics at Yankee Stadium in New York City on April 22, 2024. (Mike Stove/Getty Images)
After the game, Wendelstedt told pool reporters that he had not seen the replay of the incident.
“Apparently what he meant was there were fans right above the dugout,” Wendelstedt said, via MLB.com. “This is not my first sending off. Throughout my career, I have never sent off a player or a manager because of fan comments. I understand that it will be part of the story or something. , ‘Cause that’s what Aaron is about.” I heard something from the other side of the dugout, not related to his area, but he was the Yankees’ manager, so I had to go.
“Everything you said is exactly what was communicated on the field,” Wendelstedt continued. “That’s what Aaron said. He said, ‘The fans said it, the fans said it.'” I said, “I don’t care who said it.” …It’s foolish to kick a player out when you don’t know who did it. ”
Hunter Wendelstedt serves as an on-field umpire during the bottom of the second inning of the San Diego Padres vs. St. Louis Cardinals game at Petco Park on April 2, 2024 in San Diego, California. (Brandon Sloter/Getty Images)
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While Boone watched the game from the clubhouse, the Yankees’ offense struggled mightily, allowing just three hits.
The Athletics finally got things going in the top of the ninth inning when Zach Geroff hit a two-run homer off Yankees relief pitcher Victor Gonzalez.
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