Watch Twins' Derek Shelton Make MLB History With ABS-Related Ejection vs. Ryan Helsley, Orioles

Minnesota Twins manager Derek Shelton became the first MLB skipper ejected for Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System-related reasons on Sunday.

In the ninth inning of the Twins' 8-6 loss to the Baltimore Orioles, Orioles closer Ryan Helsley successfully challenged a called ball that turned Twins first baseman Josh Bell's walk into a strikeout. Shelton argued that Helsley waited too long to signal for the challenge before he was tossed.

"I didn't think Helsley tapped his hat quick enough," Shelton told reporters after the game. "Maybe he did, maybe he didn't, but I didn't feel he did. I feel like it's gotta be something that's in the three seconds and I didn't think it was there, but the umpire crew thought it was."

As part of the new ABS system introduced in 2026, players have roughly two seconds to signal their intent to challenge.

Helsley's challenge came at a key moment in the game, as the Twins opened the ninth with a single from Luke Keaschall before Matt Wallner lined out.

If Bell had walked, Minnesota would've had runners on first and second with only one out as they tried to erase the two-run deficit. Instead, he struck out.

The Twins were eventually able to put runners on the corners, but a flyout from center fielder James Outman sealed the final result.

Despite Shelton's ejection, Helsley understood his perspective as the umpire didn't notice his challenge signal right away.

"I mean, I understood where he was coming from because I had felt like the umpire didn't see me right away, and so I was kind of confused," Helsley said, per MLB.com's Theo DeRosa. "And then, I think I did it again. But [second-base umpire] Laz [Diaz] behind me kind of took up for me and was like, 'He did it right away,' which, I know we're probably going to go through some growing pains with this because it's so new, and I think we saw that today."

"I can respect Shelton for trying to not get him to do it there, because it did seem like it was a little long in that moment," he added.

With Sunday's victory, the Orioles won the three-game series between the two teams to open the 2026 season.