Reds fans are livid after umpires erase Tyler Callihan’s catch that left him injured

Tyler Callihan left it all on the line Monday night in Atlanta, and all he had to show for it was a broken forearm and two more runs on the board for the opposing team. The Cincinnati Reds rookie made a heroic diving play along the left field line to take away a hit from Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson, but after securing the ball in his glove, Callihan crashed into the wall.

Callihan writhed on the ground in pain, the ball rolled out of his glove, and his teammate TJ Friedl quickly came to side before motioning to the Reds' dugout for help. Callihan was hurt badly and the Reds medical staff made their way onto the field.

But as head trainer Sean McQueeney and assistant trainer Tomas Vera headed toward left field to tend to Callihan, Olson was rounding the bases and headed for home. But Callihan caught the ball, right? While every single Reds fan (and most Braves fans) assumed that Olson was out, the umpires saw it differently. Olson was allowed to stroll home while the ball lay next to Callihan, and the play was ruled an inside-the-park home run.

Reds fans are furious after umpires erase Tyler Callihan’s catch vs. Braves

Some fans online were upset that Olson didn't stop rounding the bases, but that's just absurd. Olson simply hit the ball, and after the catch was waved off by the umpires, the Braves slugger simply did what he was supposed to do; he came around to score.

Reds manager Terry Francona motioned to the umps for a review before heading out to left field to check on his injured rookie. Upon review, the umpires ruled that it was not a catch, Olson and Austin Riley scored, and the score was 4-0 in the bottom of the third inning. Had the play been ruled a catch, it would've been the third out of the inning and Cincinnati would've escaped down just 2-0.

TJ Friedl spoke with Cincinnati reporter Charlie Goldsmith about the play after the game. “It just doesn’t make sense. From my perspective, the guy catches the ball. His glove hand breaks. And the fact that he can’t transfer the ball from his glove hand to his throwing hand is the reason that’s a hit. That’s a bit ridiculous,” Friedl said.

MLB fans, along with the Reds and Braves broadcasts believed Tyler Callihan caught that ball

Friedl wasn't the only one questioning the umpires' decision. Almost every single baseball fan on social media called it a catch. Even the Braves' broadcast team thought Callihan made the catch. The Reds' broadcast tandem of John Sadak and Jeff Brantley couldn't believe the umpires didn't overturn the call.

"We have seen letter of the law at times enforced and at times not on other challenge situations," Sadak said. "And the ugliness of that play. To me, he caught that ball. I know what the book says. I think he caught that ball."

The Braves went on to win by a final score of 4-0. The utter shock of Callihan's injury, an extra two runs, and a dominant outing from AJ Smith-Shawver kept the Reds' bats silent all night. Cincinnati recorded just one hit. The Braves, on the other hand, had seven hits — though it should've been six.

Callihan suffered multiple broken bones in his forearm and is headed back to Cincinnati to undergo surgery. At this time, there's no timetable for his recovery. Everyone throughout Reds Country is offering Callihan their thoughts and prayers, and is wishing him a speedy recovery. And no matter what the box score says, it was a catch.

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