Angel Hernandez, the MLB umpire often associated with controversy, found himself in hot water once more during Sunday’s clash between the Yankees and the Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium.
The drama began right from the start. During the bottom of the first inning, Gleyber Torres faced a 3-2 count with Blue Jays pitcher Bowden Francis on the mound. As Francis seemingly started to step off the rubber, he abruptly launched into his delivery.
Caught off guard by the pitcher’s balk-like move, Torres momentarily stepped out of the batter’s box. However, Hernandez, to the dismay of the Yankee Stadium crowd, instantly called a strike three on a pitch that was borderline high.
The call sparked immediate outrage, with Torres voicing his frustration and manager Aaron Boone rushing out to argue the decision. Despite their protests, the umpires conferred briefly and ultimately upheld Hernandez’s call, much to the dissatisfaction of the Bronx faithful, who responded with a cascade of boos.
Boone’s dissatisfaction wasn’t quelled. Following the inning, he sought out Hernandez for an explanation but emerged from the conversation seemingly unconvinced.
This latest incident only adds to Hernandez’s reputation for questionable calls. Earlier in the week, another controversial moment unfolded at Citi Field, with Hernandez making a disputed call involving Tigers’ first baseman Spencer Torkelson. In that instance, Hernandez ruled that Torkelson had swung at a pitch, potentially grazing his finger or bat, despite minimal evidence to support a swing.
With a history of contentious calls and Sunday’s incident fresh in fans’ minds, it’s clear that Angel Hernandez’s presence behind the plate continues to be a source of frustration for players, managers, and fans alike.
Yankees fans slam the umpire
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