In a bizarre scene on Wednesday, Boston Red Sox interim third base coach Chad Epperson went onto the field of play to wave home baserunner Wilyer Abreu. Epperson literally ran over the foul line into fair territory just a few feet from Baltimore Orioles third baseman Coby Mayo. In fact, he wasn’t that far from making contact with Mayo.
The odd sequence of events began when Orioles starting pitcher Chris Bassitt allowed Wilson Contreras to double down the left field line with a runner on first base. Epperson could not see the ball or whether left fielder Taylor Ward had cleanly fielded it because they were tucked away in the left field corner at Fenway Park, where the stands butt right up close to the foul line.
As he waved Wilyer Abreu home, Epperson decided to enter the field of play to get a better view. Ward’s throw to catcher Adley Rutschman beat Abreu, but the initial call was that he was safe at the plate. After Orioles manager Craig Albernaz challenged the play, the umpire overturned it to an out.
Should an umpire have thrown Boston third base coach Chad Epperson out of the game?
Since Chad Epperson entered the field and might have impeded the play, the umpire could have called Abreu out anyway. After the inning was over, Albernaz went onto the field to speak with the umpires, but he didn’t contest the play because Baltimore had already won the review.
After the game, Albernaz told reporters that the umpiring crew said if it happened again, they would have ejected Epperson.
According to MLB Official Baseball Rule 5.03, “Base coaches must remain within the coach’s box consistent with this Rule, except that a coach who has a play at his base may leave the coach’s box to signal the player to slide, advance or return to a base if the coach does not interfere with the play in any manner.”
Epperson became the Red Sox interim third base coach after Boston fired manager Alex Cora and many of his assistants in April. He has been the subject of scrutiny by Boston media and fans after playing a role in four outs that were made at the plate in a span of six games.