Pat Hoberg was dismissed after an investigation of more than a year.
United States.- Major League Baseball (MLB) issued a statement in which they announced the dismissal of umpire Pat Hoberg for violating rules on sports betting in baseball. Hoberg had been removed from his duties as an umpire since the investigation into his sports betting began in February last year, preventing him from officiating in the full 2024 season games.
The MLB opened an investigation last February after a betting house alerted them to suspicious activity related to the baseball umpire. Although the investigation found no evidence that the umpire had bet on baseball or manipulated games, the MLB determined that his conduct was inappropriate. As a result, MLB's vice president of field operations, Michael Hill, recommended Hoberg's dismissal on May 24.
MLB Commissioner, Rob Manfred, supported this decision, arguing that strict enforcement of betting rules is essential to preserve the integrity of the sport. Manfred explained that although there was no evidence of direct betting or game manipulation, Hoberg showed poor judgment by sharing betting accounts with a professional poker player, who, it was discovered, had bet on baseball.
At 38, Hoberg made his Major League debut in 2014 and is considered one of the most skilled umpires in judging the strike zone. During the 2022 World Series, he was noted for a "perfect game" by correctly calling all 129 pitches he evaluated. However, his off-field behavior led him to face this severe sanction.
In a statement, Hoberg took responsibility for his errors in judgment and deeply regretted his conduct. He clarified that he never bet on baseball or provided information for betting purposes. Additionally, he apologized to Major League Baseball and the baseball community, committing to learn from this experience.
See also: MLB to investigate a former teammate of Shohei Ohtani for illegal betting
Hoberg, who had the right to appeal the decision of his dismissal according to the collective bargaining agreement, saw MLB hire a neutral investigator to analyze the case and prepare a final report for the commissioner.
