Umpire Doug Eddings apologizes to Cardinals pitcher Hansel Rincon after MLB reportedly reprimanded him for telling rookie to straighten crooked cap

Umpire Doug Eddings apologized to St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Hancel Rincon on Saturday for telling the rookie to straighten his tilted cap during Friday's 7-6 win over the Colorado Rockies.

However, the veteran umpire reportedly felt compelled to do so after Major League Baseball told him that he acted inappropriately in admonishing Rincon, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal .

Eddings' directive to Rincon caused an uproar that resulted in Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol being ejected from the game for arguing over what occurred.

"He apologized for what happened [Friday] night," Rincon said through bullpen catcher and team interpreter Kleininger Teran, via the St. Louis Post Dispatch's Derrick Goold . "He also told me good luck for the rest of my career as a big-leaguer."

The rookie added that he told Eddings, "'Don't worry, it's nothing personal, and everything stays here," according to MLB.com's Owen Perkins .

The incident in question occurred during the sixth inning of Friday's game as Rincon made his major-league debut. As the rookie was pitching to Colorado's Cole Carrigg, Eddings called timeout and appeared to tell Rincon (through Cardinals catcher Leo Bernal) to straighten the brim of his cap.

Rincon had already given up a triple to TJ Rumfield and thrown a wild pitch that allowed the Rockies first baseman to score. Following Eddings' stoppage, the right-hander then threw a 96 mph fastball right down the middle of the strike zone that Carrigg hit off the wall in right-center field for an eventual inside-the-park home run .

After that, Rincon allowed a single to Connor Norby and he was replaced by Justin Bruihl. He finished with three runs and three hits allowed in 1/3 of an inning. As Bruihl warmed up, Marmol came out to argue with Eddings and was ejected from the game.

Following the game, Eddings told reporters that Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman raised the issue of Rincon's cap , asking if it could be worn that way. The umpire acknowledged that Rincon was not breaking any MLB rule . However, Goodman denied saying anything.

"I never once mentioned the hat," Goodman said, via MLB.com's Thomas Harding . "It doesn't matter who's pitching. I don't care how they wear the hat. I'm trying to find out where the ball is coming out, and I'm trying to worry about what I'm doing in the box. I'm not worried about how his hat looks."

Before Saturday's game, which St. Louis lost 10-7 , Eddings talked to Marmol and Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer, then made sure to speak with Rincon as the Cardinals pitchers walked to the bullpen. This reportedly occurred after MLB told Eddings that he went too far by telling Rincon to straighten his cap.

It's uncertain whether or not Eddings could be disciplined further by MLB for the incident, Rosenthal reports.

During batting practice, most of the Cardinals players wore their caps with the brim turned to the left in protest. Many of them continued to wear their caps crooked, as did several Rockies players, during the game. Several Cardinals fans behind home plate and radio broadcaster John Rooney also wore their caps with a crooked brim in solidarity.

"I felt big support from my teammates," Rincon said . "Obviously, when you are together, like this group, we're gonna be much better."

Rincon also pitched in Saturday's game, allowing four runs and two hits in one inning. In addition to inspiring a fashion statement during his brief MLB career, the rookie has compiled a 47.25 ERA in his two outings.