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Yankees manager Aaron Boone rips 'embarrassing' ejection apparently sparked by abuse from nearby fan as umpire Hunter Wendelstedt doubles down on decision

7 months ago 38

By Jake Nisse and Jack Bezants

Published: 01:01 BST, 23 April 2024 | Updated: 01:45 BST, 23 April 2024

Aaron Boone has ripped the 'embarrassing' decision to eject him just one batter into Monday's Yankees game in a case of mistaken identity, with umpire Hunter Wendelstedt doubling down on his decision after the game.

After Boone voiced his displeasure over a strike call just seconds before - and was told he'd be 'gone' if he said anything else - he stood silently in the dugout but was ejected nonetheless when Wendelstedt thought nearby fan abuse was coming from the Yankees manager.

And Boone was furious after the game, which the Yankees lost 2-0 to the A's, telling reporters he planned to contact MLB over the incident.


'I didn't even go after Hunter,' he began, as he went on to call the ejection 'just not okay.' 

'I was more upset on the appeal. I said, 'Hunter, you can call it too.' He came back at me pretty hard. To which I didn't respond. I just said, 'okay.' Went down. It's embarrassing. It really is a bad … it's embarrassing.'

Aaron Boone was furious after being ejected from the Yankees game on Monday afternoom

"I don't care who said it. You're gone!"

Not usually how that works but at least we got an awesome hot mic situation out of this Aaron Boone ejection pic.twitter.com/EX2xUsjtKA

— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) April 22, 2024

Boone argued with Hunter Wendelstedt after being ejected from the Yankees game

In response to a request for comment from Mail Sport, a spokesperson for MLB said that it is standard to review all ejections.

Television replays clearly showed that, immediately prior to his ejection, Boone didn't say anything and the comment came from a fan sat directly above the Yankees dugout, wearing a blue sweater.

But Wendelstedt incredibly doubled down on his mistake after the game, as he insisted the abuse was actually coming from the Yankees' dugout.

'Aaron Boone is the manager of the New York Yankees and is responsible for everything that happens in that dugout. ... I don't want to eject a ballplayer,' he said, via MLB.com's Bryan Hoch.

'We need to keep them in the game. That's what the fans pay to see. Aaron Boone runs the Yankees. He got ejected.' 

Umpire Hunter Wendelstedt thought abuse from the fan in blue (center) was from  Boone

Speaking after the game, an angry Boone said that the incident was 'embarrassing' 

Microphones picked up the angry exchange during the game, as Boone could be heard screaming, 'I did not say a word, it was the crowd! Bulls***! I did not say anything, Hunter! I didn't say a f***ing word!'

As Boone continued to desperately plead his innocence, Wendelstedt said: 'I don't care who said it, you're gone.'

Boone, who has a history of angry clashes with MLB umpires, acknowledged he has a temper but was steadfast that the ejection was unjust.

'Obviously, it was not right. I'm a bit more vocal and fiery than some,' he said. 'But I was standing down and I just heard "you're gone, Aaron" and I couldn't believe it.

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