Cardinals' Lance Lynn Ejected From Spring Training Start for Arguing With Umpire

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Lance Lynn was ejected during the team's spring training matchup with the Washington Nationals on Friday night.

Lynn explained what happened before he got tossed by umpire Angel Hernandez (via John Denton of MLB.com).

"[Hernandez] started chirping at the [Cardinals] dugout and I told him, 'They know it was a strike.' He told me, 'Let's go!' And I told him, 'I have five seconds on the pitch clock and I'll start whenever I feel like it.'"

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol was also ejected. Lynn was reportedly throwing in the bullpen before he was instructed to leave the game by umpires, per Denton.

"I threw the next pitch and I was like, 'There's a strike!' And then it was 'see you later.' ... I went and got another 20 pitches in the bullpen, so I'm in a good spot," he said. "I guess I got ejected out of play, too, technically."

Prior to his exit, Lynn allowed four earned runs in two innings pitched. He was able to record two strikeouts, although he walked three batters as well.

Lynn signed with the Cardinals on Nov. 21, inking a one-year deal with the team that includes a club option for the 2025 season. It represented a return to the franchise that the 36-year-old started his career with back in 2011. Lynn was a member of the Cardinals for a few more seasons before his departure in 2017.

He developed into an All-Star in St. Louis, while his postseason heroics in 2011 helped the organization secure its 11th World Series victory. Lynn expressed his desire to recapture his former glory and help the Cardinals return to the postseason after a last-place finish in the NL Central in 2023.

"I think we can kill two birds with one stone," he said on Feb. 22, via Denton. "I know I still have the ability to pitch as well as I have over my whole career, and I also can help the Cardinals get back in the playoffs. That's all it's about for me."

While Lynn compiled an ugly 5.73 ERA in 32 starts with the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers, he's not far removed from his last All-Star season in 2021. With his Cardinals return getting cut short due to the ejection, he'll hope for a less eventful outing the next time he takes the mound.