Fire and Friction: Benches Clear in Yankees-Orioles Game After Tense Collision at Second

By Mary John

In a game that was meant to be a pivotal matchup between two of the American League East’s top contenders, tensions boiled over at Camden Yards as the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles clashed not only in the standings but on the field. A second-inning collision between Anthony Volpe and Heston Kjerstad sparked a benches-clearing confrontation that overshadowed what should have been a tightly contested baseball game. Though no punches were thrown, the incident highlighted the simmering tension between two franchises with playoff aspirations and a shared recent history of on-field animosity.

Heading into the late-April series, the Yankees were on a tear, winners of eight of their last ten games. Aaron Judge was heating up, the pitching staff was locking down opponents, and spirits were high in the Bronx. The Orioles, meanwhile, had been a surprise contender in 2024, relying on their young core and a dynamic offense that ranked among the top three in most major categories.

The first game of the series was expected to be a statement-making opportunity for both clubs. Instead, it turned into a powder keg of emotions, beginning with a routine stolen base attempt gone awry.

It was the bottom of the second inning. Orioles rookie outfielder Heston Kjerstad took a modest lead off first base as teammate Austin Hays stood at the plate. Kjerstad took off for second on a 1-1 pitch. The throw from Yankees catcher Austin Wells was slightly high, drawing shortstop Anthony Volpe toward the bag.

Volpe leaped to catch the ball just as Kjerstad went into a hard, feet-first slide. The two collided awkwardly—Volpe’s knee struck Kjerstad near the temple, and the Orioles outfielder crumpled to the dirt. Play immediately stopped as trainers rushed to attend to the fallen runner.

Kjerstad remained down for a few minutes but eventually walked off the field under his own power. Though he initially stayed in the game, he was later removed and subsequently diagnosed with a concussion.

From the Yankees’ dugout, it appeared to be a bang-bang play—one of those unavoidable baseball moments. But from the Orioles’ side, it looked a little too aggressive. There were shouts from both dugouts, but umpires quickly stepped in to calm the rising tension. For the moment, the game continued.

Even before the ninth-inning escalation, something felt off.

Pitchers from both sides were nibbling inside, players were chirping more than usual, and both benches seemed on edge. Aaron Judge, who had homered in the fifth, was seen exchanging words with Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman during his next at-bat. Clarke Schmidt, the Yankees starter, looked visibly annoyed after a second mound visit in the fourth when he thought the Orioles were trying to disrupt his rhythm.

Behind the scenes, things were clearly simmering. And in baseball, when emotions stew long enough, it doesn’t take much for everything to boil over.

In the bottom of the ninth, with the Yankees leading 4–1 and Clay Holmes on the mound, Kjerstad came up to bat again after re-entering the game. On the second pitch of the at-bat, Holmes let loose a 97 mph sinker that rode up and in—too far in. The ball struck Kjerstad directly on the helmet near the ear flap.

The sound was sickening. The crowd at Camden Yards fell silent as Kjerstad dropped to one knee, then collapsed fully. Trainers again rushed out, as did several of his teammates. He was eventually helped off the field and was later placed on the 7-day concussion list.

What followed was chaos.

Brandon Hyde, the Orioles manager, stormed out of the dugout, shouting and gesturing toward the Yankees’ side. From the Yankees’ dugout, tempers flared. Words were exchanged. Then, like a scene from baseball’s not-so-distant past, both benches and bullpens emptied.

While no punches were thrown, players and coaches from both sides were chest to chest. Several players had to be restrained. Yankees catcher Austin Wells and Orioles reliever Danny Coulombe were seen exchanging heated words before being separated. Umpires quickly took control of the situation, ejecting Hyde from the game.

After the game, both clubs sought to downplay the incident—but their words revealed the emotional undercurrents.

“I don’t think anyone wanted it to come to that,” said Yankees manager Aaron Boone. “We all saw what happened in the second inning. That was a tough, unfortunate collision. And then in the ninth, it’s raining, the ball slipped—it’s not intentional. We’re not trying to hurt anyone.”

Boone also emphasized the difficulty pitchers face when gripping the ball in poor weather conditions. “Holmes has been nails for us all year. But those sinkers, they can get away from you—especially on a humid, rainy night.”

Hyde wasn’t buying it.

“My guy just got nailed in the ear. That’s not something we take lightly,” Hyde said in a tense postgame press conference. “It’s not about intention—it’s about accountability. And frankly, when I looked over at their dugout and saw some of the reactions, it didn’t sit right with me. That’s why I said something.”

Players were more circumspect but equally pointed in their remarks.

Aaron Judge, the Yankees’ captain, acknowledged the ongoing tension. “We’ve had a few of these games now where guys are getting plunked. It builds up. That’s the nature of competition—but nobody wants to see someone go down like that.”

Orioles veteran Ryan Mountcastle, meanwhile, made his feelings known. “If the roles were reversed, I guarantee you there’d be fireworks from their side too. It’s just not something you brush off.”

This wasn’t an isolated incident. Over the past two seasons, the Yankees and Orioles have quietly cultivated one of the most compelling rivalries in baseball. While the Red Sox remain the Yankees’ traditional nemesis, Baltimore’s rise has created a new tension-filled battleground in the AL East.

Last season, the two teams were involved in a similar moment of controversy when Orioles reliever Bryan Baker gestured toward the Yankees’ dugout after a strikeout, prompting a verbal altercation. In another game, Gleyber Torres was hit by a pitch and took issue with Orioles reliever Cionel Pérez, though nothing escalated that time.

Now, with both teams in postseason contention and loaded with young talent, every game feels like it carries extra weight—and extra emotion.

As of the morning after the game, Major League Baseball had not issued any formal suspensions or fines, but that was expected to change. League officials were reviewing video footage and interviewing umpires and players involved in the altercation.

According to sources close to the league office, Holmes is unlikely to be suspended unless evidence suggests intent—a high bar in most hit-by-pitch situations. Hyde, having been ejected, may face a fine, especially if he is found to have incited the altercation further after leaving the dugout.

The Yankees and Orioles still have several games left against each other this season. That alone is enough to generate anticipation—but now, with a fresh dose of animosity, future matchups may have a bit more bite.

For the Orioles, the priority is Kjerstad’s health. The young outfielder had been emerging as a key piece in the lineup, and his absence leaves a noticeable gap. “We’re going to miss him,” said Hyde. “But more than anything, we’re hoping he’s okay. That’s what matters most.”

For the Yankees, the hope is to move past the incident and stay focused on their goals. “These games matter,” said Boone. “But so does sportsmanship. We’ll always play hard, but we’re not here to hurt anyone.”

The fans, meanwhile, seem to love it. On social media, reactions ranged from outrage to excitement, with many calling it the beginning of baseball’s next great rivalry.

Incidents like this one walk a fine line between passion and danger. Baseball is, at its core, a sport defined by individual moments—but also by the invisible threads of history, rivalry, and emotion that bind teams together.

What happened between the Yankees and Orioles wasn’t just about a collision or a fastball that got away—it was about respect, intensity, and the razor-thin margin between competition and conflict.

And as the season wears on, don’t be surprised if the next chapter in this rivalry is already being written.