MLB Upholds Firing of Umpire Pat Hoberg Over Betting Scandal

NEW YORK — Major League Baseball on Monday upheld its decision to fire umpire Pat Hoberg after an investigation revealed he shared sports betting accounts with a professional poker player who bet on baseball. The league found no evidence that Hoberg placed bets himself or manipulated games, but his actions created an appearance of impropriety, leading to his termination.

Hoberg, 38, acknowledged making “errors in judgment” in a statement released through the Major League Baseball Umpires Association (MLBUA). “I take full responsibility for the mistakes outlined in today’s statement,” Hoberg said. “Those errors will always be a source of shame and embarrassment to me. I have never and would never bet on baseball in any way, shape, or form.”

The investigation began in February 2024 after a licensed sports betting operator flagged Hoberg’s account. The operator discovered that Hoberg’s personal device was linked to a betting account belonging to a professional poker player who had wagered on baseball. Hoberg also deleted messages relevant to the investigation, further complicating his case.

MLB Senior Vice President of On-Field Operations Michael Hill determined that Hoberg’s “conduct and extremely poor judgment” compromised his ability to uphold the integrity of the game. Commissioner Rob Manfred emphasized the league’s commitment to enforcing strict rules on sports betting. “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,” Manfred said in a statement.

Hoberg, known for his flawless performance as the plate umpire in Game 2 of the 2022 World Series, where he called all 129 balls and strikes correctly, was removed from spring training and made inactive for the 2024 season pending the investigation’s outcome. He was officially fired on May 31, 2024, and his appeal was denied Monday.

The MLBUA expressed respect for Hoberg’s acceptance of responsibility while noting that the investigation did not find evidence of him betting on baseball. “As Major League Baseball umpires, we have devoted our professional lives to upholding the rules and integrity of the game,” the union said in a statement. “If our union believed that an umpire bet on baseball, we would never defend him.”

Hoberg, who became a full-time MLB umpire in 2017, can apply for reinstatement no earlier than the start of spring training in 2026. His case highlights the challenges professional sports leagues face as they navigate the growing intersection of sports and gambling.