The Pittsburgh Pirates are looking to make waves this season with a series of strategic offseason moves. Leading the charge is manager Don Kelly, who’s stepping into his first full season at the helm. However, Kelly didn’t have to wait long to make headlines, as he faced his first ejection of the season in a heated matchup against the Cincinnati Reds.
The Pirates were coming off a loss in the series opener, but they bounced back with a 6-3 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth. Reds’ Eugenio Suarez quickly found himself in an 0-2 hole against lefty reliever Hunter Barco.
Barco’s next pitch was a high fastball that Suarez couldn’t resist, though he tried to check his swing. Initially, it seemed like strike three, and Suarez started his walk to the dugout.
However, after an appeal, the first base umpire ruled it a successful check-swing.
This didn’t sit well with Don Kelly. He was vocal from the dugout, urging the home plate umpire, Jordan Baker, to “watch the game.”
Baker, with little patience for Kelly’s protest, ejected him from the game. Kelly then stormed onto the field, engaging in a fiery exchange with Baker before leaving the field.
Kelly’s frustration stemmed from the inconsistency in check-swing calls, especially since there’s no option to challenge these calls even with the ABS system in place. He was particularly upset because Baker hadn’t appealed to the first base umpire on a similar call that went against the Pirates earlier.
In a postgame chat with SportsNet Pittsburgh, Kelly explained his actions. He emphasized the importance of standing by his players, saying, “I’m going to have our guys’ backs, and I expect them to have their teammates’ backs.”
Fueled by their manager’s ejection, the Pirates rallied in the ninth, adding two more runs to secure an 8-3 victory and even the series. This marked Kelly’s fifth career ejection, a surprising stat given his generally calm demeanor. Despite this, his passion and commitment to his team are clear, setting the tone for what could be an exciting season for the Pirates.