Anybody else ready for robot umps? MLB's recent announcement of the ABS challenge system coming to the big leagues in 2026 couldn't have come at a more perfect time. While ABS will cover for some egregiously missed ball/strike calls, no rule could have saved Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson from earning his first career ejection on Saturday night.
In Olson's 1,222nd career game, he picked up his first career ejection after continuing to argue a brutal interference call from home plate umpire Brock Ballou. The call deemed Pirates catcher Henry Davis was interferred with by Olson as Davis got up from his crouch to chase a popup which he ultimately dropped. To say the call was questionable at best is an understatement., Olson continued to chirp from the dugout which eventually got him tossed from the game. Manager Brian Snitker earned what could be his final career ejection for arguing the call as well.
Matt Olson was called out for interference here, as the catcher hopped up out of his crouch to go get the foul ball and ran into Olson.
— Lindsay Crosby, big baseball guy (@CrosbyBaseball) September 28, 2025
Snit got run in arguing this - looks a bit like Davis played it up to get the call pic.twitter.com/q1g4aLBdzQ
Even during the postgame explanation, Snitker was still baffled at the call. Snit also mentioned how Olson is one of the calmest players in the game, and to rattle him to the point of ejection speaks a lot about the interference call that caused this.
Matt Olson still questioning ejection after video replay proves him right
The letter of the law from MLB rule 6.03(a)(3) states a batter is out if he "interferes with the catcher’s fielding or throwing by stepping out of the batter’s box or making any other movement that hinders the catcher’s play at home base." The problem with this call is that Matt Olson took his swing and never left the batter's box despite the catcher bumping him off balance.
Crew chief Mark Wegner's explanation was that Olson took a few steps while looking up at the baseball after his swing. Wegner also stated that even if the catcher creates the contact the hitter has to get out of the catchers way. All of this was basic umpire jargon to cover-up a terrible call. Henry Davis had an embarrassing drop on the popup, and the umpires saved him with this ruling.
In the 161st game of the season, Braves fans witnessed one of the most bizarre ejections in quite awhile. Matt Olson has been one of Atlanta's best players this season, but his veteran status and respected nature didn't do him any favors in this ejection. They say you come to the baseball field and see something new everyday; this scenario certainly meets that criteria.