MLB Investigation Leads to Firing of Longtime Official for Illegal Practices
One of the longer-serving umpires in MLB baseball has been fired after it was found that he actively engaged in some illegal activities off the field.
After a lengthy appeals process, Major League Baseball confirmed its termination of an umpire on Monday. He was relieved for "sharing" bookmaking accounts with a bettor who bet on baseball.
Pat Hoberg is the umpire who has been fired
Nevertheless, no direct evidence confirms Pat Hoberg bet in a manner that affected any games, and neither that he bet on any games.
In a statement through the Major League Baseball Umpires Association (MLBUA), Hoberg took fault for mistakes but not for bettor conduct in regards to baseball.
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."
- Pat Hoberg
MLB started its investigation in February 2024 when Hoberg signed an account with a bookmaking entity that holds a bookmaking license.
That entity notified them that his device shared a secondary account with a bettor who bet on baseball. Hoberg knowingly removed messages at the center of MLB's investigation, too.
For that, he was removed from spring training and placed in inactive status for the 2024 season during the period of investigation.
Under policy with MLB, Hoberg can apply for reinstatement, but not until spring training in 2026.
The 38-year-old umpire is regarded as one of the best in the league, best known for a flawless performance at the plate in Game 2 of the 2022 World Series, in which he correctly called all 129 balls and strikes.
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Carter Verhaeghe | 3 | 1 | 4 | |
| Artemi Panarin | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Tage Thompson | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Mika Zibanejad | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Aleksander Barkov | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Paul Cotter | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Evgeny Dadonov | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Alex DeBrincat | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Jack Eichel | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Wyatt Johnston | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Alexander Killorn | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Sam Reinhart | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Igor Sharangovich | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Matthew Tkachuk | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Leo Carlsson | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Dennis Cholowski | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Rasmus Dahlin | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Jonathan Drouin | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Gustav Forsling | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Thomas Harley | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Complete stats | ||||
| STANDINGS 2024-2025 | ||||||
TOP 10 | GP | W | L | OL | PTS | |
Jets | 54 | 37 | 14 | 3 | 77 | |
Capitals | 52 | 34 | 11 | 7 | 75 | |
Stars | 52 | 34 | 17 | 1 | 69 | |
Oilers | 52 | 32 | 16 | 4 | 68 | |
Hurricanes | 53 | 32 | 17 | 4 | 68 | |
Golden Knights | 53 | 31 | 16 | 6 | 68 | |
Panthers | 54 | 32 | 19 | 3 | 67 | |
Wild | 53 | 31 | 18 | 4 | 66 | |
Maple Leafs | 52 | 31 | 19 | 2 | 64 | |
Avalanche | 54 | 31 | 21 | 2 | 64 | |
| Conference | Cumulative | ||||||