Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton (53) was ejected for strongly protesting to the referee. Coincidentally, it was after Bae Ji-hwan (24)’s bunt hit.
Coach Shelton was ejected 4 times in an away game against the 2023 Major League Tampa Bay Rays held at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, on the 4th (hereinafter Korean time).
In the 4th inning, 메이저놀이터 trailing by 1-3, Pittsburgh got 2 out and Bae Ji-hwan went to 1st base with a bunt hit to 2nd base. Then, a situation occurred at the plate of Austin Hedges. It started when Shelton shouted at referee Queen Walcott in the dugout to express his dissatisfaction.
As the appeal did not stop, the referees eventually stopped the game right after Hedges’ first pitch at bat. Coach Shelton, who ran out from the third base dugout to the ground, appealed even more fiercely, and third base referee Adrian Johnson ordered an exit. It was Shelton’s first of the season and the 10th of his personal career.
After the game, coach Shelton said, “I didn’t agree with the pitch clock. He has maintained his consistency very well, but he was inconsistent for two days.” It was an objection to the pitch clock stopping in a situation where it should have been counted down. On this morning, I had a discussion with the Major League Secretariat about this, but when it didn’t change, dissatisfaction exploded.
Coach Shelton was suddenly sent off, but Bae Ji-hwan’s feet did not stop. Hedges continued to bat after being ejected. Tampa Bay pitcher Shane McClanahan’s third ball fell outside and it became a wild pitch. When Bae Ji-hwan ran to second base, catcher Francisco Mejia’s mind went too far. He got up before he could catch the ball, and eventually he threw it back.
Bae Ji-hwan, who was running to second base, stopped his speed for a moment, but ran to third base without missing the gap that became a wild throw. Bae Ji-hwan’s concentration and boldness shined as he continued to play even in the chaotic situation of his manager’s departure.
Bae Ji-hwan succeeded in stealing 2nd base for the 4th time in the season after hitting left-handed in the 7th inning as well. He increased the number of stolen bases to 13 for the season, catching up with Ronald Acuña Jr. (Atlanta, 14) with a difference of 1 in this category.
Bae Ji-hwan, who played an active role with 2 hits and 1 walk in 3 at-bats, also raised his batting average from 24/7 to 2/62 (22 hits in 84). He only had 4 at-bats left, even entering the regulation at-bat.