NEW YORK (AP) — Jordan Baker, Bill Miller, Alan Porter and Mark Wegner will be the umpire crew chiefs for this week’s Wild Card Series.
All crew chiefs will be at third base for the openers and will not work behind the plate during the best-of-three round, Major League Baseball said Monday.
Miller will be working his eighth wild-card round, and Baker, Porter and Wegner will work their sixth.
Paul Clemons, Emil Jiménez, Alex MacKay, Charlie Ramos and Clint Vondrak will umpire postseason games for the first time.
Wegner will work the Red Sox-Yankees series in New York, joined for Tuesday's opener by Nate Tomlinson behind the plate, Scott Barry at first, John Libka at second, John Tumpane in left and Jiménez in right. Barry was behind the plate for Game 2 of last year's Red Sox-Yankees matchup and Libka also was on the crew.
Umpires rotate from right field to left and then clockwise around the bases starting at third, meaning an umpire who is at second for the opener will be behind the plate for a potential third game of the best-of-three Wild Card Series.
Porter will work the Chicago White Sox-Houston Astros series, joined in Game 1 by MacKay behind the plate, Alex Tosi at first, Ryan Additon at second, Edwin Moscoso in left and Clemons in right.
Miller's crew will be at the Chicago Cubs' series at the San Diego Padres. He will be joined in the opener by Ramon DeJesus behind the plate, Erich Bacchus at first, Chad Fairchild at second, Rob Drake in left and Vondrak in right. Bacchus was behind the plate for the opener of last year's Cubs-Padres first-round series.
Baker's crew will work the Atlanta Braves' series against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies, with Dan Merzel behind the plate, Adam Beck at first, Mark Ripperger at second, Nestor Ceja in left and Ramos in right.
Adrian Johnson, David Rackley, Chris Segal and Brian Walk will be the replay umpires at the video center in the commissioner’s office.
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Athletics manager Mark Kotsay, right, argues a call at first base with umpire Jordan Baker, left, during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Travis Hunter ended up with the football from his first NFL interception.
Hunter spun the ball in celebration and then danced in the end zone after picking off a pass from New England's Drake Maye late in the second quarter Sunday. A Patriots ball boy picked it up and refused to give it to Jaguars veteran defensive end Josh Hines-Allen, even screaming, “Hey, you can't touch me" when Hines-Allen tried to grab the ball. The ball boy appeared to try to push Hines-Allen away.
NFL players are allowed to keep game balls, although they get charged a hefty price by the league.
Hines-Allen tried to knock this one out of the ball boy's hands before Jacksonville's equipment manager, George Pellicer, stepped between them. The ball boy again screamed, “Hey, he pushed me. He can't do that" as Pellicer worked to retrieve the ball.
The Jaguars confirmed Monday that they did end up getting the football.
Video of the interaction went viral after the game, which the Jaguars won 35-6.
“I was just talking about it," Coen said during a Zoom call with reporters Monday. "I haven't gotten a clean answer. We've been in communication with those guys over there. I think they've gotten it sorted out; I can't say for certain if we got the actual ball or not.
"I know there was something that went on there. I think it's all squared away. We'll get it taken care of.”
Hunter, the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner and second overall draft pick from Colorado, made a leaping catch on the pass intended for Patriots receiver Efton Chism III. The play prevented New England from cutting into a 14-3 lead just before the break.
“The coach did a great job scheming it up for us,” Hunter said after the game. “He called the perfect call for us. We all talked and we communicated on my side of the ball, and I just made it happen.”
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Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) intercepts a pass against the New England Patriots in the first half during an NFL football game in Jacksonville, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (41) reacts during the first half against the New England Patriots in an NFL football game in Jacksonville, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) intercepts a pass against New England Patriots wide receiver Efton Chism III (86) in the first half during an NFL football game in Jacksonville, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
