ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – Nolan Fontana was called safe and then out on the same play by the same umpire – without a replay review.
Welcome to the majors, kid. Nothing is certain.
Making his major league debut for the Los Angeles Angels, Fontana was initially ruled safe by second base umpire Hunter Wendelstedt on a stolen base attempt in the second inning Monday night against Tampa Bay.
Rays manager Kevin Cash challenged the call – but before there was even a video review, Wendelstedt correctly changed his ruling to out.
“After consulting with me, he said, ‘I want to change it myself. I think I erred,'” crew chief Joe West told a pool reporter. “I said, ‘OK, it’s your call.’ So he changed it.”