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Blue Jays’ George Springer shares disbelief over blown HBP call: ‘I know it hit me in the foot’
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Photo credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Thomas Hall
Aug 14, 2024, 11:30 EDTUpdated: Aug 14, 2024, 11:45 EDT
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There are blown calls, and then there’s what transpired during the seventh inning of Tuesday night’s contest between the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Angels.
With one out in the top of the seventh, right fielder George Springer stepped to the plate for his fourth plate appearance and, during a 1-2 count, was struck on his right foot by a low-and-inside cutter from Angels left-hander Kenny Rosenberg. Or so it seemed, at least.
The initial call from home-plate umpire Manny Gonzalez was Rosenberg’s pitch didn’t hit Springer. But the 34-year-old outfielder was adamant that it did, and multiple angles of the replay seemed to support his claim. So, the Blue Jays challenged the play. Upon a replay review, though, the non-hit-by-pitch call wasn’t overturned.
Springer was, understandably, visibly frustrated over the replay review centre’s decision. He walked away from the batter’s box while yelling, “That’s awful,” several times. Shortly afterwards, Gonzalez ejected him from the game, prompting one of the most aggressive outbursts we’ve seen from the four-time All-Star.
He had to be restrained by manager John Schneider and then by first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. before exiting the field.
Amidst an 11-year career spanning nearly 1,300 major-league games, this was only the second time Springer has received an ejection. He was replaced by Addison Barger, who finished the game 0-for-2 with a popout and a strikeout.
The longtime Houston Astro, who’ll turn 35 next month, revealed that Gonzalez did nothing to trigger his heated reaction following the replay review.
“I was just kind of in shock at that call,” Springer told reporters post-game, including MLB.com’s Kyle Glaser. “It is what it is. And if you argue the call in that situation [after a replay review], it’s an automatic ejection. I get it. I know the rules.
“I know it hit me. I’m not going to say it didn’t hit me if it didn’t hit me. … I know it hit me in the foot, but it is what it is.”
Regardless of Springer’s belief, the replay review center in New York couldn’t definitively determine whether the ball deflected off his right foot or missed it entirely before touching the ground.
“Initially, [Gonzalez] had said that because of the way that the angle [Angels catcher] Logan O’Hoppe had slid to block the ball, he couldn’t see it initially,” Springer said. “I said, ‘OK, cool,’ and we went to the challenge and we were unsuccessful.
“Obviously, the call stood on the field. I know it hit me in the foot, so that’s kind of all I can do about it.”
Springer and the Blue Jays weren’t the only ones in disbelief over the replay review. Not even the Angels broadcasters could believe he wasn’t awarded first base.
The native of New Britain, Connecticut, rarely loses his cool on the field. So when he did a night ago, it spoke volumes about his uncontrollable frustration after being thrown out of the contest.
“George isn’t going to look into the dugout and say he got hit if he didn’t get hit,” Schneider said. “It was pretty clear from our view that he did. Maybe there wasn’t an angle in New York to get it.
“I thought there’s no need to throw George out there. He was kind of walking away and gathering himself. That was, I think, why he reacted the way he did.”
Once cooler heads prevailed post-game, Springer opted to take the high road. He said his peace and then moved on, noting the importance of being a role model to those in attendance and watching from afar.
“I gotta be better,” Springer said. “There’s kids in the stands. I don’t want my sons to see me get that mad. So, I gotta be better.”
The Blue Jays came away victorious Tuesday, with back-to-back home runs from Guerrero and Spencer Horwitz and two more extra-base hits from rookie Will Wagner sparking a 6-1 victory over the Angels. With the win, they’ve captured series victories against two of their last three opponents.
José Berríos will take the mound in Wednesday’s series finale as Toronto looks for its first series sweep since last month’s homestand versus the Texas Rangers.

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