MLB Ejection 087 - Jeff Nelson (2; Daniel Hudson)

1B Umpire Jeff Nelson ejected Dodgers P Daniel Hudson (instruction to avoid a balk; QOCY) in the top of the 6th inning of the Pirates-Dodgers game. With one out and none on, Pirates batter Elias Diaz singled on a line drive to right field off Hudson, placing a baserunner at first base and the balk rules into effect. With R1, as ensuing batter David Freese prepared to face Hudson, Nelson warned Hudson that his preparatory actions following the stretch in juggling the baseball with his throwing hand may violate Rule 5.07(a) regarding Set Position because the start-stop movement of the hand in spinning the baseball in front of his body may fail to satisfy the requirement that the pitcher enter Set Position "without interruption and in one continuous motion," the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Dodgers were leading, 6-2. The Dodgers ultimately won the contest, 6-4.

This is Jeff Nelson (45)'s second ejection of 2018.
Jeff Nelson now has 9 points in the UEFL Standings (5 Prev + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 9).
Crew Chief Jeff Nelson now has 2 points in Crew Division (1 Previous + 1 Correct Call = 2).
*After the game, Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts said of the ejection, "Jeff was on it. There was something with the hand, showing the runner and carrying the baseball when you come set as opposed to any type of deception...Nelly had it right." As such, this is the rare instance of a QOCY ruling for a preventative officiating act.
*Rule 5.07(a)(2) states, "Preparatory to coming to a set position, the pitcher shall have one hand on his side; from this position he shall go to his set position as defined in Rule 5.07(a)(2) without interruption and in one continuous motion." Set Position is established by placing both hands in front of the body and, with runners on, coming to a complete stop.

This is the 87th ejection report of the 2018 MLB regular season.
This is the 44th player ejection of 2018. Prior to ejection, Hudson's line was 0.1 IP, H, SO.
This is LA-NL's 6th ejection of 2018, T-1st in the NL West (LAD, SD 6; ARI, COL, SF 4).
This is Daniel Hudson's first career MLB ejection.
This is Jeff Nelson's 2nd ejection of 2018, 1st since May 15 (Scott Servais; QOC = Y [Interference]).

Wrap: Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Los Angeles Dodgers, 7/4/18 | Video as follows:

Alternate Link: Daniel doesn't dig dirt director's directive & draws disbarment for delinquency  (LAD)