Brewers’ Winker Ejected After Arguing Baffling Automatic Strike Call

Brewers outfielder Jesse Winker was ejected from Saturday’s tilt against the Rays after arguing a pitch clock violation issued to him from home plate umpire Adam Hamari.

Winker was given an automatic strike during his at-bat against Ryan Thompson in the eighth inning after Hamari deemed that he’d taken too long to get into the batter’s box.

The bizarre part, however, was that Thompson had yet to even step on the mound, and Milwaukee’s bat boy could be seen scurrying out of frame of the camera just moments before the violation was issued.

Winker was forced to start his at-bat in an 0–1 count, despite a dispute from both himself and manager Craig Counsell. He fouled off the next pitch before getting rung up on strikes to end the inning.

Winker then appeared to make a comment to Hamari, which resulted in the umpire ejecting the 29-year-old from the game.

Even the commentators were confused as to why Winker was given an automatic strike, considering Thompson was standing on the back of the mound, holding his hat in one hand. 

Winker was standing just outside the batter’s box and appeared to attempt to swiftly step inside at the last second before the violation was awarded.

The Rays went on to win the game, 8–4. Winker, who was serving as Milwaukee’s designated hitter, was 0-for-4 at the plate with two strikeouts before his ejection in the eighth inning.