Twins Manager Shelton Ejected After Heated Exchange with Umpire

Shelton denies directing comments at umpire after being tossed for arguing check swing call

Apr. 19, 2026 at 10:35pm

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A fractured, geometric painting in bold colors depicting a baseball game, with players and umpires represented as fragmented shapes and planes, conveying the heated emotions of the on-field confrontation.A cubist interpretation of the heated exchange between Twins manager Derek Shelton and the umpiring crew, capturing the emotional intensity of the moment.Cincinnati Today

Minnesota Twins manager Derek Shelton was ejected from Saturday's game against the Cincinnati Reds after a heated exchange with home plate umpire Nic Lentz. The incident occurred in the seventh inning after Lentz ruled that Reds star Elly De La Cruz did not swing on a pitch, leading to Shelton voicing his frustration from the dugout. Lentz then ejected Shelton, who denied directing his comments at the umpire and said his head was down when he made the remark.

Why it matters

Shelton's ejection highlights the ongoing tensions between managers and umpires over close calls, especially in high-stakes games late in the season. This incident also comes just a month after Shelton was the first manager to be ejected over the new Automated Balls and Strikes (ABS) system, underscoring the challenges teams face in adapting to new technologies in baseball.

The details

In the seventh inning, with the Twins leading 4-2, first base umpire Hunter Wendelstedt ruled that Reds star Elly De La Cruz did not swing on a pitch. The comment 'No swing?' could be heard from the Twins dugout, though it was unclear who made the remark. De La Cruz then hit an RBI single on the next pitch, narrowing the Twins' lead. Shelton's displeasure was audible, and moments later, home plate umpire Nic Lentz ejected him. Lentz told Shelton, 'I wasn't going to hear it anymore,' to which Shelton responded by denying he was talking to the umpire and repeatedly shouting, 'I'm not even f—ing talking to you.'

  • The incident occurred in the seventh inning of Saturday's game between the Minnesota Twins and Cincinnati Reds.
  • Last month, Shelton became the first manager to be ejected over the new Automated Balls and Strikes (ABS) system during a loss to the Baltimore Orioles.

The players

Derek Shelton

The manager of the Minnesota Twins who was ejected from Saturday's game against the Cincinnati Reds after a heated exchange with the home plate umpire.

Elly De La Cruz

A star player for the Cincinnati Reds who was involved in the play that led to Shelton's ejection.

Nic Lentz

The home plate umpire who ejected Shelton from the game after the heated exchange.

Hunter Wendelstedt

The first base umpire who made the initial check swing call that led to Shelton's frustration.

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What they’re saying

“I had my head down when I made the comment I made. He evidently thought I was making the comment at him, but I had my head down and I was not looking at any umpire after I made it.”

— Derek Shelton, Twins Manager

“I'm not even f—ing talking to you”

— Derek Shelton

What’s next

The Twins will review the incident and determine if Shelton faces any further disciplinary action from the league for his outburst.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between managers and umpires over close calls, especially in high-stakes games late in the season. It also underscores the challenges teams face in adapting to new technologies like the Automated Balls and Strikes system, which has already led to several manager ejections this year.