Major League Baseball is planning to discipline umpire Pat Hoberg following an investigation into a potential violation of sports gambling policies. In a statement released on Friday, the commissioner’s office announced that Hoberg has chosen to appeal the penalty. The nature of the violation and the extent of the punishment were not disclosed by MLB.
Hoberg, 37, umpired his first Major League Baseball game in 2014 and became a full-time staff member in 2017. He received a perfect grade for calling balls and strikes during Game 2 of the 2022 World Series. Hoberg has also worked several postseason assignments, including the 2018 AL Wild Card Game, the 2020 NL Championship Series, and the 2021 World Series in which he handled replay duties.
Additionally, Hoberg umpired the 2023 World Baseball Classic and was selected to work the plate for the “Field of Dreams Game” between the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees in August 2021. This game marked the first major league game held in Iowa, where Hoberg is originally from. Before joining MLB, Hoberg worked in various minor league baseball leagues, including the Pacific Coast League, the Texas League, and the Florida State League.
The investigation into Hoberg began during spring training this year and he was removed from on-field duties while it was ongoing. Although MLB did not find any evidence that any games he worked were compromised or manipulated, they determined that discipline was warranted due to a potential violation of their sports gambling policies. The commissioner’s office stated that further comments cannot be made until his appeal process is concluded before any additional information can be disclosed about his penalty or violation.
MLB’s decision to discipline Hoberg highlights their commitment to maintaining fair play and protecting their integrity as well as ensuring compliance with all rules governing sports betting.
