MiLB: Anthem Ejection, Sean Allen Cal League Ump of Yr

HP Umpire Ryan Wilhelms ejected Jhoan Urena for delay of game (anthem standoff) after Urena ignored Wilhelms' two warnings and instructions to return to his team's dugout following the pre-game performance of the national anthem. Minor League Baseball previously issued a memo regarding anthem standoffs with instructions to umpires to warn, then eject, for delay of game caused by a player's refusal to return to the dugout following the anthem's completion.

Cal president Charlie Blaney, Allen & Harvey.
Photo: Chris Martin (MiLB.com)

Meanwhile at Bakersfield's Sam Lynn Ballpark, umpire Sean Allen (Fresno, CA) received the California League's 2014 Doug Harvey Award, which honors that league's top umpire. The only Umpire of the Year award in both Minor and Major League Baseball (other than the UEFL's Umpire of the Year Award), the Doug Harvey Award recognizes the umpire voted as best by managers of the Cal League. Hall of Famer Doug Harvey (Visalia, CA) began his professional umpiring career in the California League in 1958. The Doug Harvey Award has been given to the Cal League's top umpire annually since 2010 when Harvey himself was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The 29-year-old Allen will serve as crew chief for the Cal League's Championship Series in September.