Another week, another Angel Hernandez special and Bryce Harper wasn’t having it.
On Thursday, the Philadelphia Phillies were hosting the Pittsburgh Pirates as the 2023 MLB regular season enters its final days. The Phillies recently clinched the first wild card spot in the National League, with the team looking to get back to the World Series off of bats like Harper’s.
In the bottom of the third, with one out and no one on, Harper was faced with a full count. Harper made a check swing on a ball low and away and was called out on strikes after the home plate umpire checked with Hernandez at third. Harper was absolutely livid after the call, as he went off on Hernandez and earned himself an ejection in the process, throwing his batting helmet to the Phillies crowd on his way out.
Angel Hernandez rung up Bryce Harper on this check swing call
Harper lost it, got ejected and then tossed his helmet into the crowd pic.twitter.com/JcUB2V5VhU
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) September 28, 2023
That’s definitely not a swing. Let’s see it from the other angle, shall we?
Guess what umpire called this a swing? pic.twitter.com/hJrYaU8H4r
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 28, 2023
Not even close! We’ve seen a lot of Hernandez gems either in the field or behind home plate this season, but this one is especially egregious.
Here’s how MLB fans reacted after Harper was ejected for being totally right on this terrible Hernandez call.
This Week, on “Angel Hernandez”…
In all seriousness, though…this was awful. https://t.co/K9nQlK4eWz
— Layton Jackson (@laytonjackson) September 28, 2023
Seriously when is the @MLB going to get rid of this guy? It’s like he’s trying to be this bad https://t.co/AWRH1Uh8FP
— 𝐊𝐲𝐥𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐦 (@kylegrantham) September 28, 2023
Angel Hernandez is so bad and he doesn’t care. Every game there is something with this guy. Please retire and let one of the AAA umpires have a chance. https://t.co/YSX43cLlYQ
— Casey Fien (@CaseyFien) September 28, 2023
There’s always a lot of murkiness around the check swing call, but my goodness…this is NOT a swing. https://t.co/f3zfl22s10
— Sammy Levitt (@SammyLev) September 28, 2023
My god this call is awful https://t.co/P1HS7ZEoda
— Jordan Weber (@Jordan2Weber) September 28, 2023
Angel Hernandez is the worst thing to happen since someone decided to put pineapple on pizza https://t.co/IDLyTMktn5
— 𖤐 (@SLOTHERlN) September 28, 2023
Angel Hernandez is an awful umpire, and everyone knows it. https://t.co/Vb32ZUOMz2
— Stacey (@StaceGots) September 28, 2023
No matter how you define swing vs. check swing, this just isn't even close. Laughably bad. https://t.co/bmhuvsFzn3
— Corey Seidman (@CSeidmanNBCS) September 28, 2023
Love how he just launches his helmet to the fans, a man of the people https://t.co/MO7MGsceD7
— It’s Joever (@suzakuwatzu) September 28, 2023
