MLB Terminates Umpire Pat Hoberg for Gambling Policy Violations

MLB Ump Pat Hoberg
MLB home plate umpire Pat Hoberg #31 during an MLB game in 2017. Photo by Albert Pena/Csm/Shutterstock (8975765t)

Major League Baseball (MLB) has dismissed veteran umpire Pat Hoberg following an investigation that revealed violations of the league’s strict gambling policies. The probe determined that Hoberg shared his legal sports betting accounts with a friend who placed bets on baseball games, and that he intentionally deleted electronic messages pertinent to the investigation, according to ABC News.

The investigation, initiated after a sportsbook account linked to Hoberg flagged suspicious activity, uncovered that Hoberg had shared his sportsbook login credentials with a professional poker player. Over a three-year period, this individual placed bets totaling over $700,000 using Hoberg’s accounts. While there was no evidence that Hoberg himself bet on baseball or influenced game outcomes, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred emphasized that Hoberg’s actions demonstrated poor judgment and undermined the game’s integrity.

“The strict 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. An extensive investigation revealed no evidence that Mr. Hoberg placed bets on baseball directly or that he or anyone else manipulated games in any way,” Commissioner Rob Manfred said, according to AP News.

“However, his extremely poor judgment in sharing betting accounts with a professional poker player he had reason to believe bet on baseball and who did, in fact, bet on baseball from the shared accounts, combined with his deletion of messages, creates at minimum the appearance of impropriety that warrants imposing the most severe discipline. Therefore, there is just cause to uphold Mr. Hoberg’s termination for failing to conform to high standards of personal conduct and to maintain the integrity of the game of baseball.”

In response to these findings, MLB placed Hoberg on administrative leave during the 2024 season and officially terminated his employment effective May 31, 2024. Hoberg appealed the decision, but Commissioner Manfred upheld the termination, citing the importance of maintaining the sport’s integrity and the detrimental appearance of impropriety caused by Hoberg’s actions.

In a public statement, Hoberg expressed remorse for his actions, stating. “I take full responsibility for the errors in judgment that are outlined in today’s statement [by MLB]. Those errors will always be a source of shame and embarrassment to me.

“Major League Baseball umpires are held to a high standard of personal conduct, and my own conduct fell short of that standard. That said, to be clear, I have never and would never bet on baseball in any way, shape, or form. I have never provided, and would never provide, information to anyone for the purpose of betting on baseball. Upholding the integrity of the game has always been of the utmost importance to me,” he said in a statement, according to ESPN.

Pat Hoberg, 38, began his MLB umpiring career in 2014 and became a full-time staff member in 2017. He was widely regarded as one of the league’s top umpires, known for his exceptional accuracy in calling balls and strikes. Notably, Hoberg achieved a perfect game in Game 2 of the 2022 World Series, accurately calling all 129 pitches.

This incident underscores MLB’s stringent stance on gambling-related activities to preserve the sport’s integrity. Hoberg’s case serves as a cautionary tale about the severe consequences of violating these policies. He will be eligible to apply for reinstatement no sooner than 2026 Spring Training.

The Major League Umpires Association acknowledged the investigation’s findings and Hoberg’s acceptance of responsibility for his actions. The association emphasized the importance of upholding the integrity of the game and the high standards expected of MLB umpires.

As sports gambling becomes more prevalent, MLB continues to enforce its policies rigorously to prevent any actions that could compromise the game’s integrity. The league’s decisive action in Hoberg’s case reaffirms its commitment to maintaining public trust in the sport.