Whatever Toronto Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker said, it clearly drew the ire of umpire Malachi Moore for an ejection.
On Tuesday, Alek Manoah was starting his second game since returning from a minor league demotion back in June. Despite a solid outing earlier in July, Manoah struggled during Tuesday’s game against the San Diego Padres, allowing two runs in the first inning before walking a batter with two outs in the second.
After Manoah walked Trent Grisham, pitching coach Walker visited the mound to talk to his pitcher. Moore walked to the mound not moments later then ejected Walker for something that was said during the conversation. The strangest part? Walker wasn’t even looking in Moore’s direction when he was ejected!
Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker has been ejected from tonight's game. pic.twitter.com/Rkylk7OwOI
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 18, 2023
The Blue Jays pitching coach wasn't even looking at Malachi Moore lol pic.twitter.com/N48rzcAm0V
— Talking Friars (@TalkingFriars) July 18, 2023
Whatever was said between Walker and Manoah, Moore clearly didn’t like it. Given the context that Moore missed a strike three call earlier on in the at-bat against Grisham, it’s highly likely Walker was objecting to the umpire’s ruling and that got him tossed.
Danny Jansen cost Alek Manoah strike 3 in the 1st inning vs Juan Soto, but man, this latest one is entirely on HP umpire Malachi Moore. #BlueJays
MLB really needs to introduce a challenge system… pic.twitter.com/9GOSRpG0hI
— Thomas Hall (@ThomasHall85) July 18, 2023
A no-look ejection is not something you see every day in baseball, that’s for sure.