Umpire Ron Kulpa Leaves Game at Yankee Stadium
USA Olympic gold medalists Jack Hughes and Aerin Frankel took part in pregame ceremonies at Yankee Stadium. They tossed ceremonial first pitches before the Yankees’ home opener.
Ceremonial first pitches at the Stadium
Hughes and Frankel are members of the U.S. Olympic hockey program. Their appearance came ahead of New York’s home-opening game.
Plate umpire exits after foul tip
Veteran plate umpire and crew chief Ron Kulpa was forced to leave the game Saturday night in New York. The incident occurred during the visiting fourth inning of the Marlins-Yankees matchup.
How the injury happened
Marlins batter Jakob Marsee fouled a Paul Blackburn pitch. The ball struck Kulpa squarely in his mask.
Immediate aftermath and game impact
Kulpa remained on the field for the remainder of the at-bat. That plate appearance ended with a run-scoring single, aided by a Yankees throwing error, giving Miami a 4-0 lead.
Medical attention and replacement
After the play, Kulpa appeared to tell Yankees medical staff he still felt the aftereffects. The umpire Ron Kulpa left the game at Yankee Stadium and went for evaluation.
First base umpire Scott Barry moved behind the plate. There was roughly a 10-minute delay while officials adjusted. Play resumed with a three-umpire crew.
- Teams: New York Yankees, Miami Marlins
- Umpires involved: Ron Kulpa (plate), Scott Barry (replacement)
- Batter and pitcher: Jakob Marsee, Paul Blackburn
- Location: Yankee Stadium, New York
Filmogaz.com will monitor updates regarding Kulpa’s condition and any further crew changes. Further information will follow as it becomes available.
