MLB umpires missed blatant obstruction call leads to Yankees' Juan Soto double play

Contributor
Kevin Hickey
MLB umpires missed blatant obstruction call leads to Yankees' Juan Soto double play image

As MLB continues to make rule changes, one of the new additions made this offseason was an obstruction call. New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto was the victim of a blatant missed obstruction call Sunday, which led to a double play.

With Soto on first base following a leadoff walk, Aaron Judge hit a high fly ball to center field. As Cleveland Guardians center fielder Tyler Freeman caught the ball and threw to first, Soto's path back to the base was clearly obstructed by first baseman Josh Naylor.

For more Yankees coverage, check out Kevin Hickey's work on AllSportsPeople.

Soto was initially called safe, but Guardians manager Stephen Vogt challenged the play. The umpires then overturned the call despite Naylor clearly obstructing the path back to the bag.

MLB defines obstruction as "an act by a fielder, who is not in possession of the ball or in the process of fielding it, that impedes the baserunner's progress."

MLB fans were not happy about the blatantly missed call: