Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Sep 4, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol (37) argues with home plate umpire Doug Eddings (88) in the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.
One of the largest and most consistent complaints among Major League Baseball fans is that the league rarely holds its umpires accountable for missed calls or for making themselves the center of attention.
While that may typically be the case, the league reportedly went in a different direction to deal with umpire Doug Eddings, who came under fire for a bizarre power trip involving St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Hancel Rincon and the way he wore his hat over the weekend.
Rincon, who was making his MLB debut, was pitching with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies when Eddings decided to stop the game and lecture the 24-year-old Dominican player about wearing his hat to the side.
Ultimately, the situation ended with Eddings handing out a pitch clock violation, Rincon imploding on the mound, and then the umpire ejecting Cardinals’ manager Oli Marmon.
The next day, players from both teams showed up to the game wearing their hats turned sideways in solidarity with Rincon. And now it appears that MLB heard the message loudly and clearly.
MLB Told Doug Eddings That He Went Too Far With Hancel Rincon
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that Major League Baseball stepped in to inform Eddings that he had overstepped his bounds in his handling of the situation.
“Umpires have broad discretion to determine whether a player’s actions are distracting,” Rosenthal wrote. “But according to two people briefed on the matter who spoke under condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly, the league viewed Eddings’ admonishment of Rincon as going too far.”
The following day, Eddings issued an apology to Rincon.
“I understood a couple words, and it looked like he apologized to me for what happened last night,” Rincon said. “He also told me good luck with the rest of my career as a big leaguer. I told him, don’t worry, it’s nothing personal, and everything stays here.”
When asked by reporters about the situation, he stated that a Rockies player had asked about Rincon’s hat. However, Colorado vehemently denied that allegation.