Washington Nationals player Lane Thomas had a rough day during the team’s game against the Detroit Tigers. The outfielder was ejected for the first time in his career by MLB umpire Emil Jimenez, sparking outrage among fans and commentators alike.
The ejection came during the sixth inning when Thomas struck out on a questionable strike call. Despite not saying a word to Jimenez after the call, Thomas was promptly thrown out of the game, leading to confusion and frustration on his part.
Even Nationals announcer Kevin Frandsen criticized the call, pointing out that video and audio evidence showed Thomas did not use any inappropriate language towards the umpire. This led to further backlash against Jimenez for his decision.
The incident marked Thomas’ first ejection in his MLB career and added to the Nationals’ disappointment as their five-game win streak came to an end with the 7-2 loss to the Tigers. This also marked the 76th ejection of the regular season, highlighting the tension and emotions that can run high in professional baseball games.