As MLB teams and umpires continue to get acclimated to the new pace-of-play rules, the league issued a clarification on Friday to the Mets regarding a controversial pitch clock call levied against the club on Opening Day.
Thursday’s game between the Mets and Marlins featured a questionable call against New York’s Jeff McNeil in the top of the sixth inning. The second baseman was assessed an automatic strike by home plate ump Larry Vanover after teammate Pete Alonso was slow returning to first base between pitches following a McNeil foul ball.
On Friday, Mets manager Buck Showalter announced the league admitted the call was incorrect, noting he was informed by a MLB official that a strike shouldn’t have been charged to McNeil.