Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls was ejected from Sunday’s game for what was perceived as a disrespectful gesture, and he went ballistic on the home plate umpire following the decision.
Walls entered as a pinch runner in the seventh inning of the Rays’ game against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas. He then came to the plate in the top of the ninth and took the first pitch he saw from Josh Hader for a strike. Walls thought the pitch missed the plate and was not happy.
After he stepped out of the batter’s box, Walls appeared to say something to home plate umpire Nick Lentz. Walls then tapped the top of his helmet a few times, at which point Lentz ejected him.
Lentz thought the helmet tap was a reference to the Automated Ball-Strike System, which was tested during spring training but has not been implemented during the MLB regular season. When that system is in use, a player can tap his helmet to signify that he wants a ball-strike call to be reviewed.
Walls insisted he “didn’t tap sh–” and exploded on Lentz. Rays manager Kevin Cash and others had to restrain Walls from going after Lentz.
Taylor Walls was ejected from the game after tapping his helmet.
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 1, 2025
(via @SpaceCityHN) pic.twitter.com/zVuZP3bHFw
Walls definitely tapped his helmet. Only he knows if he did so as a sign of disrespect towards the umpire.
Christopher Morel replaced Walls following the ejection and struck out swinging. Junior Caminero then struck out to end the game and the Astros won 1-0.
Walls entered Sunday hitting just .188 through 50 games. He could soon lose his job to Ha-Seong Kim, who is set to return next month after undergoing offseason surgery.
