MLB Fires One Of Their Best Umpires For Betting Scandal
While MLB found no evidence that Hoberg personally wagered on baseball or manipulated games, Commissioner Rob Manfred upheld his dismissal, citing "extremely poor judgment" and the "appearance of impropriety."
The league’s inquiry, which began in February 2024, found that Hoberg’s friend placed 141 baseball bets totaling nearly $214,000, including eight on games that Hoberg officiated or reviewed.
Additionally, MLB determined that Hoberg deleted key messages related to the investigation, making a full review of his actions impossible.
Breaking, per MLB: Umpire Pat Hoberg has been fired for sharing betting accounts with a friend who bet on baseball though there is no evidence Hoberg himself bet on games or manipulated any that he worked. He also deleted messages central to MLB’s investigation.
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) February 3, 2025
Hoberg, 38, accepted responsibility for his mistakes but maintained that he never bet on baseball. “I take full responsibility for the errors in judgment that are outlined in today’s statement,” he said. “Those errors will always be a source of shame and embarrassment to me.”
He insisted that he never provided inside information or influenced games, but MLB ruled that his involvement in the betting account and his conduct during the investigation warranted his termination.
Manfred reinforced the league’s strict stance on gambling, stating, “The 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.”
Pat Hoberg you will never be forgotten https://t.co/5Y56tSGCIY pic.twitter.com/36eSbeJXAl
— Wimmer (@CookedByJaguar) February 3, 2025
Once regarded as one of the league’s best umpires, Hoberg was known for his precision behind the plate, including a perfect ball-strike record in Game 2 of the 2022 World Series.
He had worked in the majors since 2014 and became a full-time umpire in 2017. The MLB Umpires Association supported the league’s decision, making it clear that it would not defend any umpire involved in gambling violations.
Though he is eligible to apply for reinstatement in 2026, Hoberg’s career now carries a lasting stain, a dramatic fall for someone once considered among the sport’s most respected officials.
Photo Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
