Even with a protective mask, getting hit in the face with by a pitch would be jolting. But that’s one of the hazards of working behind home plate, which umpire James Hoye was reminded of during Game 3 of the American League Championship Series on Wednesday night.
Facing the Rangers’ Nathaniel Lowe in the bottom of the seventh inning, Astros pitcher Hector Neris threw a 93-mph fastball that catcher Martin Maldonado didn’t quite get. The ball ricocheted off Maldonado’s mitt and into Hoye’s mask.
“I mean, seriously,” Hoye said after getting hit, presumably directed at Maldonado. Check out the clip:
The home plate umpire was not too pleased after getting hit in the mask 🤣 pic.twitter.com/pnLqnRfCK2
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 19, 2023
Hoye was obviously annoyed by getting hit by a baseball Maldonado was supposed to catch. But maybe he considered it retaliation from the Astros catcher.
Is it possible Maldonado was getting back at Hoye for calling him out on strikes in the fourth inning? Probably not. Texas had 14 batters come to the plate between Maldonado’s strikeout and Neris’s rising fastball in the seventh inning. Too much was likely at stake just for a bit of revenge.
Maldonado just missed Neris’s pitch. It happens, and though Hoye sounded annoyed, he was probably jabbing the catcher for letting one get by. At least a funny moment came from it.
