MLB Says Umpire Went 'Too Far' with Cardinals Ejection, Rincon's Tilted Hat in New Rumors

Major League Baseball alerted umpire Doug Eddings he crossed a line by instructing St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Hancel Rincón to straighten his hat and ejecting Cardinals manager Oli Marmol in the team's 7-6 win over the Colorado Rockies on Friday.

"Umpires operate with broad discretion if they believe a player's actions are distracting, but according to two people briefed on the matter who were granted anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly, the league viewed Eddings' admonishment of Rincon as going too far," Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported.

Midway through the sixth inning, Eddings called time and motioned for Rincón to straighten his hat. The rookie reliever had turned his bill slightly to the left, a style that some MLB players wear.

Marmol replaced Rincón later in the inning for Justin Bruihl. He and Eddings had a discussion as Bruihl was warming up. After the manager returned to the dugout, Eddings called a pitch clock violation, and Marmol's renewed complaints eventually resulted in his ejection.

Fans immediately questioned why Eddings made a point to address Rincón's hat when it's relatively commonplace in MLB. Hall of Famer CC Sabathia and three-time All-Star Fernando Rodney both made it one of their signatures, and neither faced any issues.

Marmol described the umpire's actions as "power-hungry."

The scrutiny on Eddings grew when he claimed Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman suggested to him that Rincón should straighten his hat. Goodman denied the assertion.

"I never once mentioned the hat," Goodman said Saturday, per MLB.com's Thomas Harding. "It doesn't matter who's pitching. I don't care how they wear the hat. I'm trying to find out where the ball is coming out, and I'm trying to worry about what I'm doing in the box. I'm not worried about how his hat looks."

In a show of solidarity, Cardinals players and some from Colorado tilted their hats during Saturday's contest.

It appears Eddings attempted to apologize to Rincón, but Rincón said he only "understood a couple words" as the conversation unfolded on the field without an interpreter.

Rosenthal relayed a statement from an MLB spokesperson.

"Saturday's gesture of apology by Doug on the field speaks for itself," they said.

Rosenthal added that it's unknown whether MLB will issue any discipline to Eddings.

Rincón is no longer on the Cardinals' active roster after St. Louis optioned him to Triple-A on Sunday.