MLB notes: Baseball apologizes to Royals for botched replay
Major League Baseball apologized to the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday for a breakdown in its replay process during a crucial moment in a 2-1 loss to the Cleveland Indians.
The issue occurred in the eighth inning of a tied game Tuesday night when first-base umpire Bob Davidson ruled the Indians’ Jose Ramirez beat out a relay throw to prevent a double play. The replays appeared to show Ramirez was out, but the call stood after a nearly 3-minute review.
Cleveland wound up scoring the go-ahead run later in the inning.
“This is one of those rare circumstances in which the super slow motion view was delayed and the replay official reached a decision without the benefit of that information,” MLB said in a statement.
Under the system adopted prior to last season, managers have the ability to challenge whether a runner is out. At that point, the umpire crew in the stadium awaits a verdict from the crews of umpires assigned to replay duty at a command center in New York.
The umpires there are supposed to have access to all camera angles from each ballpark. But it appears that the clearest angle of Tuesday night’s play was not available to them.
“They admitted they missed the call. They had a breakdown in the system,” Royals manager Ned Yost said, “but we had breakdowns all over the field.”
Vanderbilt has 3 top prospects
If you’re seeking top prospects for the upcoming MLB draft, look no further than Vanderbilt – a college with a smart-kid reputation and growing status as a destination for big-league hopefuls.
Three players from the Southeastern Conference school – shortstop Dansby Swanson and pitchers Walker Buehler and Carson Fulmer – are expected to be first-round selections on Monday.
The three Commodores are trying to join an expanding list of Vanderbilt alumni in the big leagues, including pitchers David Price, Sonny Gray and Mike Minor, along with infielders Pedro Alvarez and Ryan Flaherty.
Swanson could be selected No. 1 overall by Arizona. The junior is batting .348 with 22 doubles, 14 homers and 15 stolen bases.
Clearing the bases
Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said Yasiel Puig’s strained left hamstring is “doing good” and the All-Star outfielder will play for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga today. Should everything go well, Mattingly believes Puig could be back with the Dodgers sometime next week. . … Reds left fielder Marlon Byrd was placed on the 15-day disabled list after he fractured his right wrist when he was hit with a pitch. Infielder Ivan De Jesus Jr. was called up from Triple-A Louisville. … Cubs right fielder Jorge Soler, who leads all N.L. rookies with 50 hits, was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left ankle injury. … Rockies pitcher Jordan Lyles will have season-ending surgery to fix a torn ligament in his left big toe. Lyles is 2-5 with a 5.14 ERA this season. … The Red Sox acquired outfielder Alejandro De Aza and cash considerations from the Orioles for minor league right-hander Joe Gunkel. … The Marlins’ new custom-designed team plane it leased during the offseason has yet to take off and club officials say they might not get it this season.