Carter Capps Throws Illegal Pitch, Ejected After Hitting Ump

Carter Capps, called for an illegal pitch by 1B Umpire Brett Terry, who ejected Capps' Manager Rod Barajas in an application of professional baseball's new pitchers' rubber restriction rule, himself was ejected by HP Umpire JJ January after hitting January with a bouncing pitch during Sunday's El Paso Chihuahuas vs Albuquerque Isotopes game in the Pacific Coast League.

Prior to the 2017, the Official Baseball Rules Committee added new provisions to illegal pitch and balk rules 5.07(a) Comment, 6.02(a), and 6.02(b) outlawing crow-hop (aka pivot foot reset) maneuvers, such as that historically employed by Capps:

The pitcher may not take a second step toward home plate with either foot or otherwise reset his pivot foot in his delivery of the pitch. If there is a runner, or runners, on base it is a balk under Rule 6.02(a); if the bases are unoccupied it is an illegal pitch under Rule 6.02(b).

1B Umpire Brett Terry ejects Rod Barajas.

With none out and none on in the top of the 8th inning of the Chihuahuas-Isotopes game, Capps threw a 0-0 pitch to Isotopes batter Dustin Garneau, ruled an illegal pitch by 1B Umpire Terry. 3B Umpire Lee Meyers then called Capps for a second illegal pitch due to a similar pivot foot reset motion on the 1-2 delivery. As a result of an ensuing argument, 1B Umpire Terry ejected Chihuahuas Manager Rod Barajas. Replays indicate that in both instances, Capps' illegally reset his pivot foot in his delivery of the pitch, the calls were correct. After an ensuing foul ball, Capps' final pitch in the dirt bounced and hit January. Replays indicate that as January paused to recover at home plate, Capps appeared to make a comment toward January, resulting in a confrontation and ejection; Capps and catcher Rocky Gale had a conference at the mound immediately preceding the fateful pitch. At the time of the ejections, the Isotopes were leading, 9-5. The 'Topes ultimately won the contest, 12-5.

Wrap: El Paso Chihuahuas vs. Albuquerque Isotopes (PCL), 6/25/17 | Video via "Read More"

1/3 pic.twitter.com/mTdJ4Mw3dA

— John (@Friar_Faithful) June 26, 2017

Alternate Link: Capps is called for two balks during his debut AB (MiLB)
Second Video: Barajas yells at Terry after being ejected for arguing the two illegal pitch calls(MiLB)

2/3 Barajas ejected pic.twitter.com/TKis6UqdFe

— John (@Friar_Faithful) June 26, 2017

Anddd 3/3. Capps looks super uncomfortable. Home plate ump thinks Capps hit him on purpose I guess? Throws Capps out of the game pic.twitter.com/w7Y3w1CJVQ

— John (@Friar_Faithful) June 26, 2017

Third Video: January ejects Capps for comments made after a dirt ball hits the plate umpire (MiLB)