NEW YORK — Aaron Boone’s day lasted just two batters Monday before an umpire ejected him for complaining. Only Boone hadn’t said a word.
Home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt appeared to mistake a heckling fan for Boone, throwing him out of the game against the Oakland Athletics shortly after it began and leaving the New York manager stunned. Moments after Wendelstedt issued Boone a warning for arguing a call, a fan above the Yankees dugout appeared to shout toward the umpire. As Boone silently looked down at his nails, Wendelstedt yelled, “Aaron, you’re done!”
Boone and bench coach Brad Ausmus each pointed into the stands. “He didn’t say anything,” Ausmus said, referring to Boone.
Boone, whose 34 ejections since 2018 are the most of any manager, had gone berserk on umpires before, but never for a situation like this.
Aaron Boone was ejected two batters into today’s Yankees game.
Boone: “I didn’t say anything.”
Umpire: “I don’t care who said it. You’re gone.”
🎥 @TalkinYanks pic.twitter.com/Nsx7XtpryY
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) April 22, 2024
Huffing out to home plate, Boone told Wendelstedt he didn’t say anything.
“I don’t care who said it,” the ump said. “You’re gone.”
“Bulls—. What do you mean you don’t care?” Boone said. “I did not say a word. It was above our dugout.”
Oakland went on to win the game 2-0, scoring both runs on a Zack Gelof home run in the top of the ninth.
Boone’s ejection came with Oakland’s Tyler Nevin in an 0-1 count against Carlos Ródon. He had previously been warned for arguing a call from the first at-bat of the game. Wendelstedt awarded A’s leadoff man Esteury Ruiz a hit-by-pitch when Rodón’s slider connected with his back foot. Ruiz had also started to swing, but umpires decided that he checked the attempt.
“Got anything else to say, you’re gone,” Wendelstedt said.
A TV camera then watched Boone say nothing and even appear to examine his nails before Wendelstedt threw him out.
“I really didn’t even go after Hunter. I was more upset about the appeal.” Boone said after the game. “I said, ‘Hunter, you can call it, too.’ He came back at me pretty hard, to which I didn’t respond. I just said, ‘OK.’ It’s embarrassing.”
Boone went on to say that he still doesn’t understand why he was ejected and he would be reaching out to MLB regarding the situation.
“It was not right.”
– Aaron Boone on his ejection pic.twitter.com/PV732hHxfB
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) April 22, 2024
Nevin, the hitter at the plate at the time, is the son of Phil Nevin, Boone’s former third base coach and his close friend.
It was the second ejection of the year for Boone.
This story will be updated.
(Photo: Mike Stobe / Getty Images)