Juan Soto Ejected for First Time in Young Career during Questionable Sequence

August 9, 2018

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What could go wrong the Washington Nationals happened Wednesday, including having their 19-year phenom, Juan Soto, receiving his first ejection of his career. The incident happened as Soto entered the batter’s box in his plate appearance in the sixth inning. Before the first pitch of the at-bat, home-plate umpire Greg Gibson tossed him out of the game.

Juan Soto ejected. Didn’t do a whole lot. pic.twitter.com/H3E5Go1OmF

— Rudy Gersten (@DCBarno) August 9, 2018

Soto’s ejection came the next plate appearance after Bryce Harper hit a solo shot to cut the Nationals’ deficit to 7-3.

Crew chief Jerry Layne said Soto argued balls and strikes from his previous at-bat, in which Gibson rung up Soto on an inside pitch that appeared off the plate and near Soto’s knees.

When asked if Gibson gave Soto a warning before the ejection, Layne said the league would comment on that but he was not. Layne also deflected the question on if Soto used expletives, per Jorge Castillo of the Washington Post.

Here’s the pitch that Soto appeared to have issues with:

Here’s the pitch Juan Soto questioned. pic.twitter.com/mxQ1NfIoz2

— Rudy Gersten (@DCBarno) August 9, 2018

Following the Nationals’ 8-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves that slipped them down to 5.5 games behind the Braves for the second National League wild card spot, Soto admitted to talking to Gibson before his plate appearance that led to his ejection about the previous at-bat. Soto said he was trying to “make sure he can understand and be better,” per Jamal Collier of MLB.com.

Right after Bryce Harper homers, and before a pitch had been thrown to Juan Soto, Soto was ejected. The Nats have had major issues with Greg Gibson’s zone all night.

— Dan Kolko (@masnKolko) August 9, 2018

Meanwhile, while Michael A. Taylor pinch-hit to replace Soto following his ejection, Nationals hitting coach Kevin Long was also ejected for continuing the argument about Soto’s ejection. Taylor singled and the Nationals loaded the bases with two outs but Adam Eaton struck out swinging to halt the rally.