Major League Baseball umpire Pat Hoberg is facing punishment for violations of the league’s gambling policy, according to media reports.
Hoberg, 37, is the first umpire to violate MLB’s sports betting policy since the Supreme Court’s historic PASPA ruling in 2018. Hoberg is appealing the ruling, according to The Athletic, which first reported the story.
“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,” MLB said in a statement. “Mr. Hoberg was removed from the field during the pendency of that investigation. 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.”
World Series Experience 2w3i6h
Hoberg became a full-time MLB umpire in 2017, but has not worked an MLB game during the 2024 season. He also served as a member of the umpiring crew in the 2022 World Series when the Houston Astros defeated the Philadelphia Phillies.
Hoberg received a perfect rating for the game he worked behind the plate, according to the website UmpScorecards.com.
🚨PERFECT GAME🚨
Umpire: Pat Hoberg
Final: Phillies 2, Astros 5#RingTheBell // #LevelUp#PHIvsHOU // #HOUvsPHI#PostseasonMore stats for this game 👇https://t.co/Ic52HanqPA pic.twitter.com/ZfTCNpLU5y
— Umpire Scorecards (@UmpScorecards) October 30, 2022
The Hoberg report is the latest sports betting incident to hit the league this season. Earlier this month, MLB suspended two active players and three minor leaguers for sports gambling violations. Pirates infielder Tucupita Marcano received a lifetime ban after allegedly wagering on his own team. Marcano apparently made the wagers while he was away from the team on the Injured List. MLB determined in an investigation that Marcano did not use any inside information while placing the wagers.
At the start of the season, the Dodgers fired Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter of MLB star Shohei Ohtani. Mizuhara California sports betting ring.
Hoberg’s response y4z14
After reports surfaced on Friday evening, both Hoberg and the MLB Umpires’ Association issued statements on the matter.
In a statement provided to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Hoberg reiterated that he considers the integrity of the game to be of the utmost importance.
““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 ing me in the appeal.”
–Pat Hoberg statement, June 14, 2024
The MLBUA also provided a statement to Nightengale on Friday. It is unclear how long the appeals process may last.
“The Major League Baseball Umpires Association was made aware in Spring Training that Umpire Pat Hoberg was being investigated for potential violation of Major League Baseball’s sports betting policies,” the association said in the statement. “We have been working with Pat since then. We are now appealing the discipline issued by Major League Baseball. Because the appeal process is ongoing, the Union cannot discuss the matter. We will have no further comment until the appeal process is complete.”
According to MLB Rule 21, individuals determined to have gambled on any game where “the bettor has a duty to perform” will be subject to a lifetime ban. Umpires are subject to the rule, as are players. Violators accused of betting on other MLB games can face a suspension of one year.
