Umpire leaves game between Red Sox and Mariners after ball catches him under the chin

Sep 2, 2026

Home plate umpire Will Little left the game between the Seattle Mariners and Boston Red Sox after a foul tip in the sixth inning caught him under the chin and knocked off his throat guard

BOSTON (AP) — Home plate umpire Will Little left Thursday night's game between the Seattle Mariners and Boston Red Sox after a foul tip in the sixth inning caught him under the chin and knocked off his throat guard.

The ball tipped off the bat of Seattle's Cole Young, then glanced off catcher Boston Connor Wong’s glove before catching Little under his mask.

Little appeared dazed as Wong helped him keep his feet before a Red Sox trainer and the rest of the umpire crew joined him behind the plate to make sure he was OK.

Little returned to the plate for the final out, then left the field through the Red Sox dugout as the game was delayed for several more minutes before the bottom of the sixth, when second-base umpire Ryan Wills took over behind the plate.

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