Chicago White Sox pitcher Davis Martin was ejected from Thursday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds after two consecutive pitches came dangerously close to the head of Reds rookie Sal Stewart, triggering a benches-clearing incident.
Umpires reviewed the pitches and ejected Martin before he completed three innings, citing the proximity of the throws to Stewart’s head as the primary reason for the decision. The ejection followed a sequence in which Martin threw a pitch over Stewart’s head in the third inning, prompting a visible reaction from the rookie. On the next pitch, Martin’s fastball struck the brim of Stewart’s helmet, resulting in a hit-by-pitch call.
Stewart, who had previously homered off Martin in the first inning, pointed the knob of his bat toward the mound after the second pitch, signaling his displeasure. Reds teammates, including veteran Eugenio Suárez, rushed onto the field to confront Martin, while White Sox catcher Edgar Quero intervened to prevent further escalation. Quero walked down the first-base line with Stewart as the situation unfolded, helping to de-escalate the tension.
The umpiring crew reviewed the incident and determined that Martin’s pitches warranted ejection. The decision was made before the start of the following at-bat, leading to another brief delay on the field. Stewart remained in the game and later scored on a sacrifice fly.
Sal Stewart’s performance this season has been a highlight for the Reds, who sit five games under .500. The 22-year-old rookie has posted a .817 OPS in 119 games, with 26 home runs and 89 RBIs, earning an All-Star selection as a reserve. His impact has been particularly notable given his late-season debut in 2025, where he hit five home runs in 18 games.
Davis Martin’s season has seen him log a 4.32 ERA across 24 starts, striking out 111 batters in 125 innings pitched. The White Sox have relied on Martin as part of their rotation, though Thursday’s ejection marks a notable disruption in his outing.
The Reds went on to win the game, with Stewart contributing to the scoring via his earlier home run and subsequent run driven in on a sacrifice fly.