Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Cam Devanney made his long-awaited Major League debut over the weekend and recorded his first MLB hit on Wednesday. But what should have been a moment to celebrate for the rookie turned into a moment of controversy.
When Devanney's first hit dropped into left field for a single off of Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Emmet Sheehan, the Pirates' dugout immediately asked for the ball (as is customary when a player records a milestone like a first Major League hit). But when the umpire threw Sheehan a fresh ball, the pitcher kept the hit ball and threw back the new one – sparking outrage among eagle-eyed fans who spotted the exchange.