WATCH: Rays’ Taylor Walls loses it after helmet tap ejection vs. Astros

Just when you thought MLB umpires couldn’t make themselves the center of attention any more than they already do… here comes Nick Lentz ejecting Taylor Walls for a helmet tap.

The Rays shortstop was tossed late in Tampa’s 1-0 loss to the Astros on Sunday after what was perceived as a sign of disrespect toward Lentz — and let’s just say Taylor Walls did not take it well.

Walls entered the game as a pinch runner in the 7th and came to the plate in the 9th facing Houston closer Josh Hader. First pitch was a called strike. Taylor Walls didn’t like the call and said something to Lentz as he stepped out of the box.

Then came the moment that flipped everything. Walls tapped the top of his helmet a few times, likely referencing the Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS) used in Spring Training, and Lentz immediately threw him out of the game.

Taylor Walls ejected for tapping his helmet at the ump

Taylor Walls was ejected from the game after tapping his helmet.

(via @SpaceCityHN) pic.twitter.com/zVuZP3bHFw
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 1, 2025

The league tested the Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS) in Spring Training this year, where a player can tap their helmet to request a review of a ball-strike call. The system isn’t being used in regular-season MLB games, but Lentz clearly thought Walls was referencing it — or showing him up.

Taylor Walls, meanwhile, was irate. He screamed, “I didn’t tap shit” and had to be physically restrained by Rays manager Kevin Cash and teammates as he tried to go after Lentz.

Did Walls tap his helmet? Yeah, the video is clear on that. But whether he meant to signal anything or just reacted instinctively is anyone’s guess. Either way, Lentz decided to turn a tight ninth inning into an ump show.

Here in Philly, we saw Alec Bohm do the same type of troll to an umpire during the Phillies game against the San Francisco Giants. The only difference was that Bohmer didn’t get ejected.

Alec Bohm trolls the ump with the ABS Challenge signal

Alec Bohm trolls the ump with the ABS Challenge signal 😂

(via @2008Philz) pic.twitter.com/BK9MXq1SU4
— Crossing Broad (@CrossingBroad) April 16, 2025

After the ejection, Christopher Morel came in to pinch hit and struck out. Junior Caminero followed with a strikeout of his own to end the game, and the Astros walked away with a 1-0 win.

For Walls, the frustration extends beyond one blown-up moment. He’s hitting just .188 through 50 games this season and could soon lose playing time when Ha-Seong Kim returns next month.

But the bigger story here is MLB’s never-ending umpire problem. Tensions are already sky-high in late-game moments — the last thing anyone needs is a quick-trigger ump throwing players out for something like this.

Walls may have lost his cool, but Nick Lentz made sure he lost it in the first place. Another night, another umpire making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Go figure.