During a close 3-2 matchup between the Minnesota Twins and Seattle Mariners, a rare and heated incident unfolded in the top of the seventh inning when Carlos Correa faced his first career ejection in MLB. Alongside Correa, Twins manager Rocco Baldelli was also thrown out, an unusual scenario amplified by the fact that Correa was ejected from the on-deck circle. This event has reignited discussions about implementing robot umpires in Major League Baseball.
Details Behind Carlos Correa’s Unprecedented Ejection
The Twins were clinging to a one-run advantage when home plate umpire Austin Jones called a low strike against Mariners rookie Brooks Lee, putting him at a difficult 0-2 count. Correa, positioned in the on-deck circle, appeared visibly frustrated by the call or perhaps the delay before Lee was granted a timeout. Correa’s protests escalated as he moved nearer to the field, prompting Jones to eject him immediately.
This marked the first ejection of Correa’s career—a notable moment for the 30-year-old veteran who has served as a leader for the Twins since joining them in 2022. Correa left the field accompanied by Baldelli, who rushed out in his defense. During the confrontation, Twins coach Tommy Watkins restrained Correa while declaring to umpire Jones,
“I have nothing to say to you.”
Baldelli entered a heated verbal exchange with Jones, reportedly asking,
“What are you doing?”
with some added expletives, which led to his own ejection.
Umpiring Accuracy and Fan Reactions
Despite Jones’ current 94.9% accuracy rating for the 2025 season—improving slightly from last year’s 94.4%—the ejection puzzled many viewers. A broadcaster commented,
“It looked to me as Correa was trying to get the umpire to not be staring at his teammate.”
Such a reason for dismissal is highly uncommon and has fans questioning the consistency of human officiating in crucial moments.
The incident happened just as the Twins have hit a rough patch, going 6-6 in their last 12 games following a strong 13-game winning streak earlier in May. Their current record sits at 31-26 alongside the Mariners, with the team hoping to regain momentum despite the absence of both Correa and Baldelli for the remainder of this crucial game.
What This Could Mean for Baseball’s Future
The unusual double ejection has intensified calls for introducing automated umpiring systems in MLB to reduce human error and heated flare-ups in key moments. Fans and analysts alike argue that technology could prevent contentious calls and keep players and managers focused on the game itself. As the Twins attempt to recover from their recent slump, the outcome of this game has broader implications on both team dynamics and the ongoing debate about officiating reforms in professional baseball.