MLB Disciplines Umpire Pat Hoberg For Gambling Violation

Major League Baseball has disciplined umpire Pat Hoberg for a violation of the league’s gambling policy, as first reported by Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich of the Athletic. Hoberg has appealed the decision. Commissioner Rob Manfred will hear the appeal, according to Rosenthal and Drellich.

MLB released a vague statement on the news: “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.”

Hoberg, 37, has been a full-time MLB umpire since 2017 and was part of the crew for the 2022 World Series. He has not handled any regular season games in 2024.

He released a statement of his own (relayed by ESPN’s Jeff Passan): “I am appealing Major League Baseball’s determination that I should be disciplined for violating the sports betting policies. While that appeal is pending, it would not be appropriate to discuss the case. That said, I have devoted my adult life to the profession of umpiring, and the integrity of baseball is of the utmost importance to me. I look forward to the appeal process, and I am grateful that the Major League Baseball Umpires Association is supporting me in the appeal.”

Umpires are subject to the same gambling prohibition as are MLB players. Those found to have bet on games in which they were involved are given a lifetime ban. Betting on a baseball game in which the individual is not involved carries a one-year suspension. MLB handed down five gambling suspensions to players last week. Tucupita Marcano was banned for life for betting on Pirates games while he was on Pittsburgh’s injured list last season. Four other players (Michael Kelly, José Rodríguez, Jay Groome and Andrew Saalfrank) were hit with one-year bans for bets they placed while in the minor leagues. Rosenthal and Drellich report that the Hoberg investigation was unrelated to the players’ suspensions.