Umpire Pat Hoberg was dismissed by Major League Baseball (MLB) on Monday after it was discovered that he shared his legal sports betting accounts with a friend who was actively wagering on baseball games. The investigation, prompted by a sportsbook alert earlier this year, revealed that Hoberg intentionally deleted relevant electronic messages during the inquiry, leading to his termination. Although MLB did not find evidence suggesting Hoberg engaged in betting on baseball himself or attempted to manipulate any games, the league’s senior vice president for on-field operations, Michael Hill, recommended his dismissal after the investigation.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred confirmed Hill’s decision, highlighting the importance of maintaining integrity within the sport. Hoberg, who has been recognized as one of the top umpires for his strike zone accuracy, is barred from applying for reinstatement until the spring training of 2026. According to league reports, Hoberg’s friend made 141 baseball bets between April 2, 2021, and November 1, 2023, with a total wager of nearly $214,000 and a profit of around $35,000.
Manfred stated, “The strict enforcement of Major League Baseball’s rules governing sports betting conduct is a critical component of upholding our most important priority: protecting the integrity of our games for the fans.” He emphasized that while the investigation showed no direct betting involvement from Hoberg, his poor judgment in sharing betting accounts with someone likely to place bets on baseball, and the subsequent message deletions, created a substantial appearance of misconduct, justifying his termination for failing to adhere to professional conduct standards.
At 38, Hoberg began his umpiring career in 2009 and made his major league debut on March 31, 2014. He became a permanent member of the major league umpiring staff for the 2017 season, and notably achieved an “umpire’s perfect game” during Game 2 of the 2022 World Series, where he accurately called all pitches for the duration of the game.
In a statement following his termination, Hoberg took full responsibility for his misjudgments, expressing deep regret for his actions and acknowledging the high personal conduct standards expected of MLB umpires. He firmly asserted, “I have never and would never bet on baseball in any way, shape, or form.” He reiterated his commitment to the integrity of the game and apologized for any embarrassment caused to MLB and the baseball community.
Hoberg received notice of his firing on May 31 for breaching Article 9 (A) of the umpires’ collective bargaining agreement, which mandates umpires to adhere to high conduct standards and maintain the game’s integrity. Following the termination, Hoberg had the option to appeal, leading to an independent investigation that reported back to Manfred.
The investigation uncovered that Hoberg had opened a betting account in his name and had used electronic devices to place bets associated with another person’s account. His devices were responsible for significant bets across multiple sports, with considerable amounts wagered on football, basketball, hockey, and golf. Interestingly, among the 141 baseball bets made by his friend, several correlated to games where Hoberg served as an umpire, raising potential ethical concerns.
While Hoberg’s friend deleted digital communications related to the betting after being contacted by MLB investigators, Hoberg claimed to be unaware of the baseball bets. The Major League Umpires Association voiced its support for Hoberg, reinforcing that there was no evidence to suggest he had placed any bets on baseball himself. They affirmed the necessity of maintaining ethical standards, stating, “If our union believed that an umpire bet on baseball, we would never defend him.”
Overall, the events surrounding Hoberg’s dismissal underscore the seriousness with which MLB treats issues of integrity and the strict regulations governing umpire conduct regarding sports betting. The ongoing vigilance is designed to preserve the trust of fans and uphold the authenticity of the game.
