In one of the weirder moments from the 2018 MLB season, Corey Kluber’s final regular season start included a strange batter’s interference call that left everyone confused. With Ryan O’Hearn on first and Alex Gordon at the plate, Kluber threw over to keep the runner in check. On the next pitch, O’Hearn took off for second. Catcher Yan Gomes tried to gun him down, but his hand smashed into Gordon’s bat mid-throw, causing instant bleeding. Gomes’ thumb was visibly damaged, possibly from hitting the bat after Gordon’s swing. The umpires reviewed the play and ruled it interference on Gordon, saying the bat remained out over the plate after the swing.
Gordon was stunned by the call, arguing he didn’t try to obstruct the throw. Royals manager Ned Yost came out for clarification, but the call stood. Gomes had to exit the game due to the injury, and backup catcher Roberto Perez took over, thinking his season had ended minutes earlier. O’Hearn stole second on the next pitch and later moved to third, but Kluber got out of the jam with a couple of quick outs, including a check swing strike and a high fastball. The sequence ended with confusion, a rare call, and a bloody thumb, all in what was supposed to be a routine inning of late-season baseball.