Key Takeaways:

• MLB has officially fired umpire Pat Hoberg over sharing a gambling account with a poker player linked to baseball bets.
• An investigation revealed no direct evidence that Hoberg himself bet on baseball, but serious policy violations were noted.
• Hoberg expressed remorse, accepting responsibility for his actions while maintaining he never bet on baseball.

Major League Baseball (MLB) has officially terminated umpire Pat Hoberg as part of an investigation into his connection with a sports gambling account shared with a friend who placed bets on baseball games. Commissioner Rob Manfred confirmed the decision, stating that the integrity of the game must be protected at all costs. The investigation, which began in February 2024, was prompted by information from a sportsbook regarding Hoberg’s gambling account [AP].

MLB’s findings concluded that Hoberg’s friend, a professional poker player, had made 141 bets on baseball between April 2, 2021, and November 1, 2023, with an overall stake totaling nearly $214,000. Although there was no concrete evidence showing that Hoberg personally placed bets on baseball or manipulated games, the league cited his poor judgment in sharing the gambling account and deleting relevant communications as grounds for termination. According to Manfred, this combination created an "appearance of impropriety” which warrants severe disciplinary action [USA Today].

Hoberg, aged 38, was considered one of the top umpires in baseball, having made his major league debut in 2014, and famously achieved an "umpire's perfect game" during the 2022 World Series. He stated, "I take full responsibility for the errors in judgment that are outlined in today’s statement," and acknowledged the severity of his actions stating they remain a source of "shame and embarrassment." While maintaining that he has never engaged in betting on baseball, he expressed regret for the oversight and mistakes that led to his termination [The Guardian].

MLB opened its investigation after discovering that Hoberg and his friend were regularly using a shared account for gambling, leading to concerns about the umpire’s impartiality. The league ultimately made it clear that Hoberg’s actions violated Article 9 (A) of the umpires' collective bargaining agreement, which mandates high standards of personal conduct and maintaining the integrity of the game [CBS News]. Following Hoberg's appeal, which included the review by a neutral fact finder, MLB affirmed the termination, which now forbids Hoberg from being reinstated until the start of spring training in 2026.

Manfred stated, “The strict enforcement of Major League Baseball’s rules governing sports betting conduct is critical for upholding our most important priority: protecting the integrity of our games for the fans.” The organization emphasized the need for robust adherence to these protocols to preserve the credibility of baseball in the eyes of its fans and stakeholders.