MLB disciplines umpire for violating gambling rules

Major League Baseball disciplined umpire Pat Hoberg for violating gambling rules, according to a statement obtained by Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich of The Athletic.

“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,” the league said. “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.”

Commissioner Rob Manfred will reportedly hear Hoberg’s appeal of his punishment, which isn’t publicly known at this time.

The 37-year-old umpire denied betting on baseball, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN.

“I have devoted my adult life to the profession of umpiring, and the integrity of baseball is of the utmost importance to me,” Hoberg said Friday in a statement, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale. “I look forward to the appeal process, and I am grateful that the Major League Baseball Umpires Association is supporting me in the appeal.”

Hoberg, who hasn’t worked an MLB game this season, has been a professional umpire since 2009 and started working as a regular in the majors in 2017. He also took part in the 2022 World Series.

The incident is the latest in a slew of betting scandals in baseball this season. Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter of Shohei Ohtani, pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud after stealing nearly $17 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar to pay off sports betting debts. San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano was banned for life for violating MLB’s gambling policy. And Oakland Athletics reliever Michael Kelly and minor leaguers Jay Groome (Padres), José Rodríguez (Philadelphia Phillies), and Andrew Saalfrank (Arizona Diamondbacks) were handed one-year suspensions for betting.