Umpire Doug Eddings apologized to St. Louis Cardinals rookie relief pitcher Hancel Rincon on September 5, 2026, after Major League Baseball reportedly reprimanded the veteran crew chief for demanding that the pitcher straighten his crooked cap during his major-league debut at Coors Field.
The incident occurred on September 4, 2026, as Hancel Rincon stepped onto the mound for the sixth inning of his major-league debut.
The Sixth-Inning Stoppage and Manager Ejection
As Rincon faced Colorado’s Hunter Goodman to start the bottom of the sixth, umpire Doug Eddings called time out. According to subsequent accounts, Eddings signaled to rookie catcher Leo Bernal to instruct Rincon to straighten the brim of his cap, which was worn at a distinct tilt. Rincon complied, but the intervention preceded a rough outing in which the right-hander allowed three runs and three hits in just one-third of an inning, highlighted by an inside-the-park home run off the bat of Cole Carrigg.
Photo: stltoday.com
The stoppage drew immediate ire from the St. Louis dugout. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol came out to dispute the ruling and was promptly ejected from the game. Speaking to reporters afterward, Marmol did not mince words about the encounter.
“He took it upon himself to tell our rookie pitcher, the kid’s ‘Not gonna wear his hat on my field that way.’ You got Dontrelle Willis, CC Sabathia, Pedro Strop — plenty of guys that have worn it way more tilted. I have an issue with that. That’s just a power-hungry move, in my opinion.”
Oliver Marmol, St. Louis Cardinals Manager, via nypost.com
Conflicting Accounts Over the Hat Dispute
After the game, Eddings met with reporters and explained that a Rockies player had initiated the issue to raise the question of proper uniform standards. The crew chief acknowledged that Rincon was not violating any official rule of Major League Baseball, but maintained that the extreme tilt crossed a line regarding traditional uniform etiquette.
“I never once mentioned the hat. It doesn’t matter who’s pitching. I don’t care how they wear the hat. I’m trying to find out where the ball is coming out, and I’m trying to worry about what I’m doing in the box. I’m not worried about how his hat looks.”
Hunter Goodman, Colorado Rockies Catcher, via MLB.com
An On-Field Apology and Leaguewide Protest
The situation shifted significantly ahead of Saturday’s game. According to reporting from The Athletic, Major League Baseball informed Eddings that he had acted inappropriately in admonishing the rookie. Before the second game of the series, Eddings spoke with Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol, Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer, and tracked down Rincon as pitchers walked toward the bullpen.
Speaking through a team interpreter, Rincon confirmed the conversation to reporters.
“He apologized for what happened [Friday] night,” Rincon said. “He also told me good luck for the rest of my career as a big-leaguer.”
E115 – Doug Eddings Tells Hancel Rincon to Fix His Hat Straight & Oliver Marmol Gets Ejected
Hancel Rincon, St. Louis Cardinals Pitcher, via St. Louis Post Dispatch
Rincon added that he responded to the umpire by stating, Don’t worry, it’s nothing personal, and everything stays here. An MLB spokesperson noted regarding the interaction that the gesture by Doug on the field speaks for itself.
Teammates rallied around the young pitcher in a notable display of unity. During Saturday’s batting practice, most Cardinals players wore their caps with the brim turned to the left in protest. The tilted-hat style carried over into the game itself, adopted by several Rockies players, Cardinals fans seated behind home plate, and radio broadcaster John Rooney.
From Instagram — related to umpire doug eddings apologizes, Doug Eddings Hansel Rincon
For Rincon, the immediate aftermath of his historic weekend involved further roster adjustments. After appearing in Saturday’s game and allowing four runs and two hits across one inning—bringing his brief major-league ERA to 47.25—the Cardinals optioned the rookie back to Triple-A Memphis on Sunday.
Left-hander Cooper Hjerpe was promoted from the minor-league system to take Rincon’s place on the active roster, carrying a 3.00 ERA across four minor-league levels into the final stretch of the season.
