In the ninth inning of Game 3 of the Cubs/Padres Wild Card Series at Wrigley Field, Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts was called out on strikes:
Well. Pitch 6, which was called strike three, doesn’t look like a strike — there or here [VIDEO].
This Baseball America article suggests that it might have been a strike and not overturned by the ABS challenge system, which will be in place in MLB next year.
Regardless, it went into the books as a strike and thus a strikeout, and the Cubs won the game and series.
After the game, Bogaerts and José Iglesias confronted the umpires, who at Wrigley have to go back to their locker room through the visitors dugout. It was an ugly scene (music was added by the poster, that wasn’t the music playing at Wrigley):
Friday, MLB announced discipline for both Bogaerts and Iglesias. Iglesias has received a one-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for his unprofessional conduct toward Major League Umpires as they exited the playing field. The suspension was announced by Michael Hill, MLB’s Senior Vice President for On-Field Operations, made the announcement.
Pending an appeal, the suspension of Iglesias will be scheduled to begin on his first day as an active player on a Major League roster during the 2026 regular season. If Iglesias elects to appeal, then the discipline issued to him will be held in abeyance until that process is complete. In addition, Bogaerts has received an undisclosed fine for his conduct toward umpires in the dugout following Game 3.
I can certainly understand the frustration of Bogaerts and the Padres over that situation. The conduct toward the umpires was uncalled for.
