Manager Alex Cora #13 of the Boston Red Sox exchanges words with umpire Pat Hoberg. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
On Friday, Major League Baseball “disciplined” veteran umpire Pat Hoberg for allegedly gambling on baseball games. This story comes after the MLB banned Tucupita Marcano for life for gambling last week. In that same investigation, four other players were handed one-year suspensions.
Hoberg has denied these allegations, per ESPN. The exact “discipline” handed down has not been revealed as the investigation is not fully finished yet. Still, if proven he has gambled on MLB games, the possibility of a lifetime ban is on the table.
The 37-year-old made his Major League Baseball umpire debut in 2014 and has worked the World Series and World Baseball Classic pool games since. He also received praise for calling a “perfect game” in which he went 129-129 in taken pitches called correctly. This “perfect game” came at a good time, as it was during game 2 of the World Series in 2022 between the Phillies and Astros.
He has not been on the field for an MLB game this season amid the ongoing investigation but is regarded as one of the best ball and strikes umpires in the MLB.
The MLB released the following statement: “During this year’s Spring Training, Major League Baseball commenced an investigation regarding a potential violation of MLB’s sports betting policies by Umpire Pat Hoberg. Mr. Hoberg was removed from the field during the pendency of that investigation. While MLB’s investigation did not find any evidence that games worked by Mr. Hoberg were compromised or manipulated in any way, MLB determined that discipline was warranted. Mr. Hoberg has chosen to appeal that determination. Therefore, we cannot comment further until the appeal process is concluded.”
The Athletic first reported this story.
