Phillies’ catcher J.T. Realmuto is bizarrely ejected after a failed ball exchange with the umpire

Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto was ejected from his team’s latest spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays for apparently showing up an empire in what seems to be one of the most baffling ejections. 

The 32-year-old was tossed from Monday’s game in the fourth inning, following a failed ball exchange with umpire Randy Rosenberg. 

Realmuto had settled back down in his crouch before holding his glove up for a new baseball from home plate umpire Randy Rosenberg. 

With his back to the umpire, the catcher paused for an instant and then moved his glove just as Rosenberg threw the ball into the ground. 

Rosenberg immediately ejected Realmuto, who appeared to have no clue what happened as he was left baffled by the interaction. 

Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto was ejected for showing up an empire on Monday vs. Toronto

Baffled by the umpire’s decision, Realmuto observed his manager Rob Thomson storming out of the bullpen to contest the ejection

Realmuto pumped his fist in the air after being tossed out in the fourth inning of Monday’s win for the Phillies against the Blue Jays

Beforehand, Phillies pitcher Craig Kimbrel had been making a fuss about a call, so perhaps Rosenberg assumed that Realmuto was showing him up by not accepting the ball that was placed into his glove rather than what just simply appears to be a miscommunication between both men. 

‘First time I was ejected. It was a soft way to get thrown out,’ Realmuto told The Philadelphia Inquirer postgame. 

Phillies manager Rob Thomson stormed out of the bullpen to contest his catcher’s dismissal without success. 

‘The umpire felt like Realmuto took his glove out of the way and I think Realmuto didn’t sense that the ball was on its way, so he just figured the umpire was throwing it back to the mound,’ Blue Jays play-by-play announcer Buck Martinez said on the broadcast.

Toronto’s other color commentator Ben Wagner added: ‘On the prior exchange the umpire threw it out to Kimbrel, so all right, you don’t feel the ball nestled into your glove, and he wasn’t even looking at the umpire — he just pulled his glove down.’

Realmuto, who represented Team USA at the WBC, was puzzled after the Phillies’ 5-2 win.

‘How does he expect me to know he’s giving me the ball right there?’ he further told The Inquirer. ‘I’m not even looking at him.’

Realmuto then revealed the real reason behind his ejection, saying that Rosenberg had told him that he thought he was being ridiculed by the catcher.

‘I said, ”Dude, I thought you were throwing the ball,’ Realmuto said. ‘He said, ”I’m not gonna buy that.”’