Josh Donaldson amazingly managed to get ejected after hitting a home run

If there’s one thing an umpire absolutely hates, it’s being forced to wipe dirt off home plate. Sure, they’re probably going to dust off the plate anyway between batters, but when someone makes them do so as an act of defiance, oh man, it’s game over.

That was what made Josh Donaldson’s ejection during Thursday’s game between the Twins and White Sox so special. Donaldson dirtied up the plate AFTER hitting a home run and completing his trot.

Donaldson’s beef with home plate umpire Dan Bellino came in the sixth inning with the umpire incorrectly calling a strike on a pitch well low and outside. A frustrated Donaldson collected himself and hit a home run in that same at-bat.

But he still had to show up Bellino.

Josh Donaldson did not appreciate a strike call, 2 pitches later he hit a HR and got ejected crossing home plate pic.twitter.com/CitbuyMGZa

— Stu Motown #BlackLivesMatter (@cjzero) September 17, 2020

You've gotta see this Josh Donaldson homer. pic.twitter.com/h8kztCi2Lt

— Cut4 (@Cut4) September 17, 2020

As Donaldson approached home plate, he made a point to kick a whole mess of dirt over the plate so Bellino would have to clean it up. Bellino immediately ejected Donaldson after the first kick of dirt, but the Twins third baseman returned to make sure the plate was completely covered.

It’s sort of hilarious that Bellino ejected Donaldson for making him clean the plate when he was going to do so before Ehire Adrianza’s at-bat. But umpires are just that sensitive and like to be respected at all times or whatever.

And sure, Donaldson could have just let that bad strike call go without a reaction. After all, he did just hit a home run. But that would have denied all of us the opportunity to see the most amazing baseball ejection of the season.

Just legendary stuff there, J.D.