This year’s wave of MLB gambling scandals has reached the umpiring ranks.
MLB umpire Pat Hoberg was disciplined for violating the league’s gambling rules, according to Atlético. Hoberg is appealing the decision.
The exact nature of Hoberg’s violation was not explained, but MLB said in a statement that it found no evidence that he manipulated the games he worked. MLB reportedly began investigating the 37-year-old during spring training this year and removed him from the field during the investigation.
Per ESPN’s Jeff PassanHoberg denied betting on baseball.
Statement from MLB, via The Athletic:
“During spring training this year, Major League Baseball began an investigation into a possible violation of MLB sports betting policies by umpire Pat Hoberg,” MLB said in a statement issued to The Athletic. “Mr. Hoberg was removed from the field during the pendency of this investigation. Although MLB’s investigation found no 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 this decision. Therefore, we cannot comment further until the appeal process is complete.”
Hoberg has called MLB games since 2014 and became a full-time umpire in 2017. Since then, he has built a reputation as one of the most accurate umpires in the game. He was among the top ball-striking scorers on the Ump Scorecard leaderboard last year and received attention from calling it a “perfect game” behind the plate in the 2022 World Series.
MLB Umpire Pat Hoberg Is the Latest Name in Wave of Gambling Scandals
A well-regarded referee appearing in a gambling scandal is already damaging for the league, but it’s particularly difficult right now for MLB. The season began with the Ippei Mizuhara-Shohei Ohtani scandal that engulfed league coverage for nearly a month, and the issue resurfaced last week through a group of players.
San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano was banned for life from MLB after an investigation found he bet on games involving his own team and four other players – Oakland Athletics reliever Michael Kelly, Padres pitcher , Jay Groome, Philadelphia Phillies infielder José Rodríguez and Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher. Andrew Saalfrank – were all suspended for a year for baseball gambling.
The matter is also by no means exclusive to MLB. The NBA has banned Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter for life over a particularly brazen scheme in which the bench player would withdraw from games to help his co-conspirators reach their personal “unders.”
Meanwhile, the NFL has been dealing with players playing in ways they shouldn’t for more than a year, with All-Pro wide receiver Calvin Ridley still the most famous name to feel the pain. The college ranks were also affected.
Part of this is a consequence of the increasing legality of legal sports gambling, which leagues have recently embraced with open arms. It’s certainly a financial benefit to the league’s owners, but athletes regularly violate the rules.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25571280/2408_Home_007578fb33c931bba638.png?w=300&resize=300,300&ssl=1 "Microsoft is making its Windows Game Bar more portable-friendly")
