What happened: Umpire Nic Lentz told pool reporter Pete Abraham that a batter who mockingly taps his helmet to show disagreement on a non-challengeable call is subject to immediate ejection. "In a situation like this, where it's pretty immediate and showing disagreement ... it would be immediate," Lentz said of the ejection. The standard treats the gesture as open dissent rather than a legitimate appeal.

Why it matters: The helmet tap is the same motion players use to invoke an Automated Ball-Strike challenge, so mimicking it on a call that cannot be challenged reads as showing up the umpire. As the ABS system settles into the regular season, crews are drawing a firm line between using the formal challenge and openly protesting a ruling. The clarification puts players on notice that borrowing the challenge gesture sarcastically carries the same penalty as any other act of dissent.

What to watch: Watch how hitters adjust their on-field reactions as umpiring crews enforce the standard consistently through the season.