First Manager Ejected in the 2021 season, a breakdown

Brandon Hyde, the manager of the Baltimore Orioles, is ejected in the early stages of the game against the Boston Red Sox. The incident occurs in the bottom of the inning, with the score tied and the game still in its early stages. The play begins with the Orioles' batter, a player whose full name is not provided, stepping up to the plate. The umpire calls a strike on the first pitch and the batter is hit by the second pitch. The Orioles' dugout appeals, questioning whether the batter had swung at the pitch. The umpire's signal is unusual and the announcers note that they have not seen that particular gesture before. Replays show that the pitch clearly hit the batter, but the umpire still rules it a swing. This prompts an immediate reaction from Brandon Hyde, who rushes out of the dugout to argue the call. Hyde expresses his confusion, asking the umpire how the pitch could be ruled a swing when it visibly hit the batter. Despite Hyde's calm demeanor, the umpire quickly ejects the Orioles' manager from the game. A visibly frustrated Hyde turns to the other umpires, continuing to question the decision and using some colorful language to express his dissatisfaction with the call. In the post-game interview, Hyde explains his perspective, stating, "I'm just asking how that was a swing. I asked maybe once or twice and the dude threw me out early." The manager believes the replay will show that he was right, but the at-bat continues with the next Orioles' batter, who also gets hit by a pitch. The game continues with the Orioles now managing without their ejected manager. The at-bat for the hit batter, whose full name is Francisco Mejía, ends with him being called out on strikes, leading to further frustration from the Orioles' dugout. This early ejection of Brandon Hyde is the first of the 2021 MLB season, setting the stage for what is sure to be a contentious and eventful campaign. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by managers and umpires in making split-second decisions that can significantly impact the outcome of the game.