Bizarre Missed Strike Three Call Leads to Astros Walk

Home plate umpire Mark Wegner lost track of the count, allowing Astros' Cam Smith to walk despite swinging and missing three times.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 2:29am

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In a bizarre incident during a game between the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox, home plate umpire Mark Wegner appeared to lose track of the count, allowing Astros right fielder Cam Smith to walk despite swinging and missing the third strike. Both MLB Gameday and Baseball Savant showed the third pitch as a ball, though video clearly showed Smith swinging and missing.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges of implementing automated ball-strike (ABS) technology in baseball and the continued need for human umpires, who can still make mistakes that impact the game. It also raises questions about the reliability of data tracking systems and the potential for human error to creep into even the most advanced baseball analytics.

The details

In the fifth inning, with Smith at the plate, Bello threw three pitches that Smith swung and missed. However, umpire Mark Wegner only signaled one strike, appearing to lose track of the count. Smith then continued his at-bat, eventually drawing a walk, despite the video evidence showing he should have been called out on strikes. The bizarre sequence also led to a run being scored on an errant throw to home plate.

  • The incident occurred in the fifth inning of the April 1, 2026 game between the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox at Daikin Park.

The players

Cam Smith

The right fielder for the Houston Astros who was involved in the bizarre missed strike three call.

Mark Wegner

The home plate umpire who appeared to lose track of the count, leading to the missed strike three call.

Brayan Bello

The starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox who threw the pitch that Smith swung and missed, but was incorrectly called a ball.

Connor Wong

The catcher for the Boston Red Sox who caught the third strike pitch from Bello.

Alex Cora

The manager of the Boston Red Sox who removed Bello from the game after Smith walked following the missed strike three call.

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What they’re saying

“ABS hasn't removed the human element from Major League Baseball, a fact accentuated by an apparent mistake on Tuesday night at Daikin Park.”

— Chandler Rome, Author

What’s next

The MLB is likely to review the incident and determine if any disciplinary action should be taken against umpire Mark Wegner for the missed call.

The takeaway

This bizarre missed strike three call highlights the ongoing challenges of implementing new technologies like automated ball-strike systems in baseball, and the continued need for human umpires who can still make mistakes that impact the game. It also raises questions about the reliability of data tracking systems and the potential for human error to creep into even the most advanced baseball analytics.