Major League Baseball’s new ABS challenge system is going to create some chaos this season.
On Sunday, it produced its first ejection of the season when Minnesota Twins manager Derek Shelton was tossed from their 8-6 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.
Twins manager Derek Shelton is first ABS ejection of season
With the Twins trailing the Orioles, 8-6, in the top of the ninth inning and Josh Bell facing a 3-2 count, closer Ryan Helsley’s pitch was initially called a ball, sending Bell down the first base line.
Bell would have represented the tying run with only one out and given the Twins a fighting chance to complete the comeback.
But with the Orioles still having a challenge remaining, Helsley could be seen immediately tapping his hat to initiate the challenge.
It was granted.
The call on the field was also overturned and called strike three for the second out of the inning.
This sent Shelton into a full meltdown because, in his opinion, Helsley did not call for the challenge in the allotted time.