Bryce Harper was ejected in the bottom of the third inning of Thursday’s Phillies-Pirates game following one of the worst Angel Hernandez calls you’ll see.
And that’s saying something.
Harper was called out on strikes after home plate umpire James Hoye appealed to Hernandez at third. The replay showed that Harper’s bat did not go through the strike zone. It wasn’t even close.
Hernandez said he did not check his swing and Harper was furious. He approached Hernandez and screamed all the way up the third base line.
“What! That’s terrible,” Harper said. A few expletives and insults later and Harper was ejected by Hernandez in a moment reminiscent of the Scott Barry-Ryan Howard stare down.
In a move that could garner a hefty fine, Harper threw his helmet into the crowd.
Luckily, nobody appears to be hurt and a young fan gets to go home with a souvenir he never expected to get in a million years.