Taylor Walls Ejected from Game for Tapping Helmet, Says He Didn't Realize Until Video Review

Published: June 2, 2025

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls was ejected from Sunday's game against the Houston Astros in the ninth inning for tapping his helmet, a gesture considered disrespectful by Major League Baseball officials.

Walls, 28, became visibly infuriated after the call and needed to be held back by teammates and bench coach Rodney Linares. The shortstop said he didn't realize he tapped his helmet until he saw a video of the incident after the game.

“I just remember going to get into the box, kind of adjusting my helmet and then hearing him mouthing something. I was like, 'Huh? What'd you say? I can't hear you,’ ” Walls said.

Walls added that he didn't intend to show disrespect and was unaware of the rule change during the preseason, which allowed batters to tap their helmets to initiate a challenge. The system was only applied to the preseason, and players were warned that tapping their helmets during the regular season could result in an ejection.

“And at that point, I have no recollection of it, but after seeing the video, it looks like I tapped my helmet. But it was totally unintentional, something I was not consciously aware of at all," Walls said.

Walls also defended himself, saying he didn't think he was being disrespectful, and the ejection was premature. “Just to be so on edge, thinking that somebody's just trying to be so disrespectful and show you up at that point, I think it was premature," he said.

Walls added that he can't recall ever being ejected from a game and wants to apologize to the umpire if he thought he intentionally tapped his helmet.