How rare shift-violation challenge cost Royals in Thursday’s loss to Mariners
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Mariners won after a rare shift violation call gave them a late baserunner edge.
- Replay review confirmed Royals' Michael Massey had one foot on outfield grass.
- Controversial call triggered pitching change, RBI double, and Mariners' series win.
The Seattle Mariners halted Thursday’s game for an eighth-inning replay challenge, and an interesting challenge it was.
Mariners outfielder Dominic Canzone had just grounded out to second against the Royals at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City. It looked like a routine play, but the Mariners apparently felt something wasn’t right.
Seattle manager Dan Wilson initiated a replay challenge for a shift violation. Wilson believed Royals second baseman Michael Massey hadn’t been fully on the infield dirt — with one foot perhaps instead encroaching onto the outfield grass — before the pitch was thrown.
The challenge caught multiple people involved off-guard, at least at first glance. Players are aware of the Major League Baseball rule, but it’s rarely called into question.
For reference, here is what the official MLB rulebook says about such situations:
— The four infielders must be within the boundary of the infield when the pitcher is on the rubber.
— Infielders may not switch sides. In other words, a team cannot reposition its best defender on the side of the infield the batter is more likely to hit the ball.
— If the infielders are not aligned properly at the time of the pitch, the offense can choose an automatic ball or the result of the play.
The Mariners claimed Massey didn’t have both feet planted on the infield dirt. The umpires huddled and went to the replay monitor. Upon review, it was deemed that Massey was indeed on the outfield grass.
As a result, Massey was charged with an error and the Mariners were awarded a baserunner. And that play was followed by a domino effect of sorts.
First, Royals starter Stephen Kolek was replaced by reliever Daniel Lynch IV.
Lynch recorded an out but then allowed an RBI double to Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford. The baserunner — pinch-runner Victor Robles was inserted for Canzone — came home to score.
Kolek was charged with an additional run and the Mariners went on to win 2-0 and take the series over the Royals.
“Never had it happen,” Massey said of the challenge. “So (it’s) on me, as far as obviously I know the rule: can’t be on the grass. Whether the replay is conclusive or not, we kind of went through all that stuff last year. ... I’ve got my opinions on it, and it doesn’t help us in the situation. So the reality is that’s the rule.”
Kolek shared his post-game thoughts as well. He had a blunt assessment of the shift violation, which also drew the ire of Royals fans.
“You know, whatever kind of petty call that was, but it is what it is — rules are rules,” Kolek said. “It is what it is. But we will be paying that much more attention to anything they do in the future.”
The Royals dropped to 76-77 with the loss. They need to win six of their last nine games to finish with a winning record for the 2025 season.
While the shift violation didn’t cost the Royals the game, it played a significant role in their hopes of mounting a late comeback. Massey was frustrated that the replay decision led to another run being charged to Kolek.
“It’s frustrating because it hurts the team,” Massey said. “The guy gets the base. Steve (Kolek) did a great job keeping guys off the basepaths. And the next guy hits a double down the line and they score a run. Turned that into a two-run game when it could’ve been a one-run game. Like I said, the rule stuff is not my job.”
Royals manager Matt Quatraro indicated the shift-violation challenge is necessary but is not intended for the sort of situation that arose Thursday afternoon.
“They’re trying to eliminate having four guys or five guys in the outfield,” Quatraro said of the rule’s definition. “You are not supposed to play like the old-school heavy shift. And that’s the reason, not to have, whatever, one spike touching the grass. That is the reason he violated but not the reason the rule was put in play.”
Massey tried to plead his case after the call. He understood the rule pertains to any part of a cleat being on the outfield grass.
“My argument out there was, when I do my jump, you know, my heels are up,” Massey said. “Maybe it’s hovering, but my toes are in the dirt.”
The Royals dropped two of three games against the Mariners. On Friday, they will begin a weekend series against the Toronto Blue Jays.
This story was originally published September 18, 2025 at 6:04 PM.
