Injury - John Tumpane Leaves Game in Boston After Second Foul Ball to Head in as Many Innings

HP Umpire John Tumpane exited Monday's Orioles-Red Sox game at Fenway Park after a 7th inning foul ball struck him in the facemask. Tumpane was also hit in mask an inning earlier. Report: www.closecallsports.com/2022/...

[@Oceangirl_505]

John Tumpane is an amazing person, too. He saved a woman's life before a game. Search KZbin for the videos, he was recognized by MLB, among others, for his heroic effort!

[@jbreezy101]

In Pittsburgh on the Roberto Clemente bridge a few years ago

[@andreymalov9602]

Hope John's OK, great umpire and a great person too! He's obviously quite shaken, it's always better to sit out a couple of days and make sure you're fine!

[@MaydayAggro]

Second to none. I don't think I've ever seen him miss a call on a tag play.

[@josephfaust1508]

My uncle played Little League baseball with him

[@Back2Analog]

Saw this live last and couldn't believe he didn't go down after the second one. That hit squarely, not a deflection. Props to the crew chief for getting him out immediately.

[@donh6416]

Good point on the deflections. Full force impacts certainly send the shock wave throughout the brain bucket

[@dclark0601]

He’s the most in-shape umpire I’ve ever seen

[@a_badali]

definitely in-shape, but I'm putting my money on Porter

[@marcovehurley]

Jim Wolf is pretty ripped too lol

[@a_badali]

@@marcovehurley I immediately wanted to change my comment to Wolf after I posted. If Wolf was behind the dish that pitcher would've just said, "Yes Daddy, right call."

[@darealmet0r489]

@@a_badali just looked him up, my god

[@teebob21]

@@a_badali LMAO

[@sethcunningham2138]

This man kept a woman from jumping off the Roberto Clemente bridge. If he needs to sit, I’m sure as hell not going to question it.

[@RobZelinka]

I can't help but think about how many times lately I see umpires taking a foul ball off the mask, and more so leaving the game. It's been 15+ years since I worked baseball, seeing an umpire get hit like this much less leaving the game was a rare event. When it happened to one of us, another crew member would indicated there's a stance problem. As I take a look at many of these videos, it seems that umpires aren't working the slot much anymore but rather setup more behind the catcher. This would seem to increase the likelihood of events like this.

[@teebob21]

Yep. First thing I noticed was that Tumpane was not in the slot, rather he was in the Danger Zone.

[@claytonwade3570]

Tumpane is the pure example of a human being at it's finest, this man deserves happiness on an unprecedented scale

[@deansapp4635]

John took 2 solid shots. It was the right call to pull him

[@johnnyg2049]

Hope he's OK. He's a great umpire and person. He's my favorite MLB umpire today.

[@detroitrockcity8]

Wicked shots by John. Been a fan of his for a while as far as mechanics etc. I do believe that Marvin didn’t like what he saw in the first second or two or the second foul strike and decided to make the switch. Unless it really KO’s you, we don’t want to come out and John is no different and Marvin probably felt a third one could cause potentially some serious damage. Kudos on getting him out because at the end of the day, a 1-2 day rest to clear protocol makes a big difference in possibly missing multiple weeks due to a gnarly concussion. (I.e. Dale Scott, Kerwin Danley and Gerry Lane of more recent concussion prone umpires-but noted also their tenure of service when it became an issue too). Hope he’s back out there by this weekend’s series. Side note for any other NFHS/NCAA umpires. If not the full hockey style, have you found that helmet 2-piece beneficial in protection if you do have it? Thanks for any feedback!

[@chrisbevan1896]

Tumpane is awesome but he sets up right behind the catcher which puts him at risk for this. If he were more in the slot both of these miss him. He's a pro so he knows what he's risking by moving behind the catcher but it's something to think about.

[@annettemalaski1967]

Best thoughts go out to John!

[@bruceboman9801]

Johnny T., following concussion protocols. Lots of officials or people who go through this have delayed reactions. I think Johnny was doing to himself what umpires do to catcher's by giving them a little extra time to gather themselves. Take care Johnny T.

[@JackoDaddy5]

Adding a comment to this old video, but maybe it would make a difference to somebody, sometime. It's been shown that the Rawlings Coolflo skullcaps bill is TOO LONG to be used effectively while umpiring. The bill runs directly into the front of the mask. The mask, connects to the bill, which creates a direct bridge to the skull. The All Star, and Easton skull caps both have shorter bills which do not touch the front bars of the mask, and have a bigger safety net between the bill and the mask. Several umpires are wearing the Rawlings, and I cannot figure out why they don't have this information.

[@hwileyiii]

John is a good guy and friend from Pittsburgh. I 🙏 he's good

[@jbreezy101]

John is very respected as a human (after rescuing the suicidal woman in Pittsburgh) and as an umpire but I did hear that he lost some of each recently? Not sure. Hope he’s alright… I don’t want to see umps or anyone get injured. Great decision by the crew chief to tell John he’s done. Concussions are serious injuries Im also wondering if the next batter got his triple for the cycle.

[@ronpeacock9939]

He didn't take one.. but two to the mask. Many would have staggered after one. I do see he's wearing the helmet and I know that helps disburse some of the blow.. but 2... Crew chief knew what he was doing there. And I'm sure with the trainer checking him out, he may have been feeling it. The trip to the mound.. he's trying to walk it off.. and get a breather.. He may need a day or three but he should be back soon.

[@totallykoolyeah]

Am I crazy or did this same thing happen in a red Sox game this year.?.. 2x fouls off the HPU

[@williambenson5336]

Prayers for the umpire

[@poppagreene4187]

Hope Tumpane will be good to go. Those foul balls to the dome have a cumulative effect and it's not fun, trust me. It takes a while to fully reset

[@Stormsfury777]

I think it's totally precautionary in the concussion protocols... those were nasty tip shots, especially the 2nd one

[@1988texasaggie]

What is the protocol to decide who 'puts on the gear'? Is it always the 2nd base ump? Is it because it has been a couple of games since he was last behind the plate and will be behind the plate again? Some other factors considered by the Crew Chief?

[@LindsayImber1]

Here's an article about that: www.closecallsports.com/2016/09/ask-uefl-what-happens-after-uic-gets.html

[@1988texasaggie]

@@LindsayImber1 Thanks. Exactly what I was looking for!

[@evankirk5937]

Stay in the slot, even when the catcher is set up outside!

[@MaydayAggro]

Anyone notice he sets up really low? His eyes are at the top of the catcher's head. How does he see the bottom of the zone?

[@dannythurstoniii6307]

Just curious, if John clears concussion protocol (if there is one for umpires), could he continue in the game at second base? This is about the 3rd or 4th umpire injury I’ve seen this season and all of them they finish the game with a 3-man crew.

[@dannythurstoniii6307]

PS I hope John is okay. This wasn’t downplaying his injury.

[@ozzinine]

Lindsey, what is the highest level at which you have umpiring or officiating experience?

[@trvnquillityvii6418]

Hope he's okay.

[@NotTodayBud]

The commentator is way too focused on the fact that Tumpane walked to the mound with the ball. The other guy said it himself, he was just "taking a timeout."

[@MrHmg55]

Remember when you never saw a player wearing 70 for a number after the second round of spring training cuts?

[@StrivingTowardsWhatIsAhead]

Hyde always seems like he gives zero F’s

[@agostinomcneil5287]

I have a question my question is how come there are umpiring cruise and then the umpires move around to different crews and just to point out there’s been more ejections Chris Siegel ejected Manny Machado and Bob Melvin on May 31 also there was a Ejection Again Seattle Mariners one of the players I forget the name so I just wanted to tell you that this was all on May 31 just to let you know

[@therebellioussheep2368]

This explains why he called three balks on the Marlins pitcher. That foul ball to the head messed up his brain.

[@amonrodriguez3518]

F em up! Actually John I think is one of the good ones

[@Darkangel-sw9lm]

The Catcher should’ve been quicker to go to the mound and give the ump time.

[@rogerzercher1348]

Umpires earn their pay also

[@richardhartman3179]

I think they should let the best announcer/umpire put the gear on and replace the injured umpire. Then there would be four umpires and a hullabaloo.

[@almostfm]

I'm with you-concussions are no damn fun. Something I've wondered about-why don't the umpires (especially one who has to go put on the plate gear mid-game) wear the chest protector and shin guards on the _outside_ ? It would certainly speed up the break in putting the gear on.

[@bobloblaw1180]

Because that would save 30 seconds but look horribly silly

[@kennethkobylakiewicz3157]

@@bobloblaw1180 Optics. Has a little league look.

[@DEATHBYJOKES01]

Knocked him silly.

[@royknowings58]

Okay lady let the announcer do the talking, not you. We don't need a broken record.

[@erickjovan]

He was in the danger zone

[@metzilla]

no, he was in the slot. you can still get hit in the slot (obviously)

[@brentnovak2061]

@@metzilla he is directly behind the plate, not in the slot at all.

[@erickjovan]

@@brentnovak2061 exactly

[@metzilla]

@@brentnovak2061 ...wow, ya know, after looking at this on something larger than my phone, ... he IS more plate-center than slot, ...wow, my bad!

[@bkembley]

Walking out to the mound is the oldest time buying trick in the book. When a catcher takes a shot, I walk the ball out to the mound and have a nice chat with the pitcher just to give the catcher a second to regroup. I've had good catchers do the same for me having a little mound visit just to give me time. The fact that the announcers have been around baseball as long as they have but aren't aware of this practice seems weird to me. Their push to dramatize it is everything wrong with the media today--"we don't understand so there must be something crazy going on."

[@rickhaavisto9023]

To be fair, I don’t recall the last time I’ve seen an umpire walk the ball out to the mound himself after he got hit. Usually, whoever is the one who didn’t get hit stays put

[@darinlegore284]

For too many years we were told to "tough it out" or "be a man...". then they went to so-called 'Concussion protocol' for PLAYERS. Now I am seeing more an more foul balls hitting umpires rather than being caught or deflected. Now we get a protocol and "no shame" ability for a newly promoted guy, in his thirties, to leave for health reasons. Instead of an "extra crew in NYC on replay review", maybe every umpire crew in Country should consist of 5 umpires (4 MLB on field starting & one AAA call-up in stadium?), in dressing room ready, in case something happens, so live TV isn't delayed 10-15 minutes on injuries/HP umpire changes?

[@jackstraw3934]

Hope he’s okay. Outstanding umpire. Separate question though- why is he wearing a medical face mask? What is the purpose? And a cloth one too.

[@stripeybeast]

Where have you been for the past two years?

[@jackstraw3934]

Been right here the last two years. Not sure if you’re uninformed or intentionally obtuse. The CDC itself (despite its leadership’s incoherent and conflicting messaging) has reported that masks have limited efficacy, cloth masks none, and outdoors no application. With various vaccines and therapeutics now available and Covid on the wane, the question again is why the mask?

[@evankirk5937]

Maybe he had COVID recently and is still in the 5-day window after first testing negative where CDC recommends wearing a tight-fitting mask?

[@drjosholds]

If your aren't vaxxed, you have to mask. Of course, he could also be vaxxed and feel like he still should.

[@jackstraw3934]

@@evankirk5937 If he has Covid I thought the protocol was isolation for that five day period. Anyway… this morning the @nytimes finally acknowledged in an article that the data clearly shows wearing masks, and mask mandates, has had zero statistical impact on covid.

[@saints093]

Why is John continuing to wear a facial covering? It's TOTALLY SENSELESS for him to continue to wear a facial mask, it's NOT mandatory anymore, I hope he'll eventually shed that facial mask to where you can see his whole face when he umpire's a game before this season is over

[@colintca0949]

It's so Jomboy can't read his lips

[@thestoryofb-1234]

Tumpane still wearing a face diaper, I see.

[@lancatemujhin187]

Take it like a man. I got nailed 5 times the other day. I didn't come out. I'm too tough. The baseballs quit before I did.