Ex-Yankees catcher Trevino emerges villain in Chisholm’s controversial ejection

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CINCINNATI (AP) — What began as a playful reunion turned into one of the more bizarre controversies of the Yankees’ 2025 season — and at the center of it is former fan-favorite Jose Trevino.

The former New York Yankees catcher, now playing for the Cincinnati Reds, found himself in the middle of an ejection controversy involving Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm Jr. on Tuesday night. What appeared to be innocent frustration from the third baseman quickly escalated into an ejection, and according to the Yankees, Trevino had more to do with it than first met the eye.

“I’m a little down on Trevy right now,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said pregame Wednesday, in what initially sounded like sarcasm — but wasn’t.

Boone revealed he believed Trevino instigated the ejection by pointing Chisholm out to home plate umpire Mark Wegner. The YES Network broadcast later showed Trevino speaking with Wegner and gesturing toward the Yankees’ dugout moments before the ejection occurred.

“I think he contributed to the (Jazz Chisholm Jr.) ejection, too,” he added. “I think he got Mark (Wegner) looking in that direction.”

Playful Trevino draws Yankees ire

Tensions were already high before the controversial moment. Trevino, an All-Star and Platinum Glove winner during his tenure in the Bronx, had made light-hearted gestures toward his former teammates in the series opener. He used Aaron Judge’s walk-up song “Hello” by Pop Smoke on Monday, which drew a smile and cap-tip from the Yankees captain. On Tuesday, he took the plate to Carlos Rodon’s warm-up song, “Rooster” by Alice In Chains.

“I thought he wanted to talk to the umpire,” Trevino said when asked about his exchange with Wegner. “I was just helping him out.”

But Jazz Chisholm, who had struck out in his previous at-bat on what he believed was a blown call, was visibly talking to himself when Wegner suddenly tossed him. The assumption? That Chisholm’s frustration was being directed at the umpire — because Trevino had pointed it out.

Chisholm later clarified the moment.

“I looked at [Wegner] and said, ‘Why are you looking at me?’ That’s when I get tossed,” he said. “I didn’t say anything crazy. I didn’t say, ‘That was a bad pitch.’ I got tossed for asking, ‘Why are you looking at me?’ That’s not a good reason to toss anybody.”

Yankees push back

Boone said he discussed the incident with both league officials and Chisholm, maintaining his belief that Trevino stirred the pot.

“Jazz is an emotional guy,” Boone said. “He tries to rein that in. But I think there’s a pretty strong case he should not have been thrown out of that game based on pretty much everything he didn’t say.”

Even Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay added fuel to the debate during the YES telecast.

“Jazz Chisholm just got thrown out, and really he has nobody to blame but himself,” Kay said.

Despite the harsh commentary, the video evidence and Trevino’s own actions complicated the narrative. Chisholm’s reaction wasn’t outwardly aggressive, and his ejection, which came from across the field, felt like a snap judgment fueled more by perception than words.

Chisholm responds with his bat

Chisholm didn’t have to wait long for payback. In Wednesday’s series finale, he belted a 433-foot home run off Reds starter Brady Singer — and didn’t hold back after crossing home plate.

“That was for last night,” Chisholm told Trevino with a grin.

Trevino took the jab in stride.

“I was his teammate. I’m not going to fight the guy,” he said. “It’s baseball. I don’t have anything against him. I think he’s a good player.”

The Yankees went on to win 7-1 and avoided a sweep in Cincinnati, maintaining their narrow one-game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East.

Clubhouse fallout and lessons learned

According to team sources, Chisholm was shown the replay in the Yankees clubhouse ahead of Wednesday’s game and immediately recognized Trevino’s subtle involvement. Rather than reacting with anger, he laughed and chalked it up to “baseball gamesmanship.”

Still, the incident triggered internal discussions within the Yankees about emotional control and maintaining composure.

“That’s still a work in progress,” Boone admitted. “Jazz knows we’re counting on him. He’s a big piece. We need him in those games, not in the clubhouse early.”

The third baseman’s energy is both a spark and sometimes a liability. But as the Yankees near the midway point of the 2025 season, they’re not questioning his importance — only how he manages moments like these.

A bittersweet role for Trevino

For Trevino, the situation is complex. Once beloved in New York for his defense and clubhouse leadership, his actions Tuesday — intentional or not — cast him as a temporary villain in the Bronx.

Though he insists there was no malicious intent, the optics of a former Yankee influencing an ejection against his old team — particularly a young star like Chisholm — didn’t sit well with fans or management.

Trevino was traded to Cincinnati this past offseason following the Yankees’ acquisition of reliever Fernando Cruz. While the move was seen as necessary to bolster New York’s offensive production behind the plate, Trevino’s influence on Tuesday night proved that his presence still resonates — for better or worse.

Yankees regroup after grueling stretch

Wednesday’s win closed out a grueling 16-game stretch in which New York went just 7-9. The team now gets a much-needed off day Thursday before hosting the Tigers at Yankee Stadium.

“I think everybody’s going to sleep 14 hours, especially me,” Chisholm said after the win.

With the standings tight and emotions running high, the Yankees know that every game — and every interaction — matters. And as the latest dust-up with Trevino showed, even friendly faces can become unlikely rivals.

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