Major League Baseball (MLB) officially terminated umpire Pat Hoberg on Monday following serious violations of the league's gambling policies, igniting discussions about integrity within the sport. Hoberg's dismissal stems from his decision to share legal sports betting accounts with a friend, who was found to have wagered on baseball games.
The league's investigation began earlier this year, prompted by information from sportsbooks about Hoberg's actions. Notably, it revealed he had shared his betting accounts with a professional poker player—a relationship Hoberg should have recognized as problematic. Despite the investigation yielding no concrete proof of Hoberg betting on baseball or manipulating games, his conduct raised serious questions.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred stated, “The strict enforcement of Major League Baseball’s rules governing sports betting conduct is a key priority. This is about protecting the integrity of our games for the fans.” The investigation brought to light the factical existence of messages deleted by Hoberg, which were central to the inquiry, prompting MLB to affirm the severity of his conduct.
Hoberg, who has been regarded as one of the highest-rated umpires, was first notified of his termination on May 31, 2024, following the league's assessment of his actions. During the investigation, it was determined Hoberg's friend made 141 bets totaling nearly $214,000 between April 2021 and November 2023, of which Hoberg's device was at times implicated.
Retrospectively, the MLB report indicated Hoberg's decision to open his friend’s betting account prompted various infringements, including accessing and directly betting through shared accounts. Hoberg placed substantial wagers primarily on football, basketball, hockey, and golf, with only limited bets on baseball itself, the latter mostly arising from shared accounts of his friend.
The connection to baseball became even more concerning, as some of the bets placed by Hoberg’s friend occurred during games where Hoberg served as either the umpire or the replay official. An example cited involved bets on the Los Angeles Dodgers during their 14-4 victory over the New York Mets on August 15, 2021.
For the entirety of this ordeal, Hoberg has maintained his innocence concerning direct betting on baseball. He communicated his regrets and remorse, asserting, “I take full responsibility for the errors in judgment. Major League Baseball umpires are held to high standards of personal conduct, and my actions fell short.”
Even after denying any wrongdoing, MLB's investigation concluded with drums of accountability. According to MLB’s ruling, Hoberg exercised “extremely poor judgment” by engaging with individuals betting on baseball, and deleting messages exacerbated his situation. The investigation reaffirmed the necessity for umpires and officials to uphold the highest standards of personal conduct.
Notably, the MLB Umpires Association reiterated its support for Hoberg, disclosing their belief he did not bet on baseball, but also stressed the importance of adhering to the standards their profession demands. Following his termination, Hoberg is permitted to apply for reinstatement after the 2025 season.
Hoberg's previous record highlighted his reputation as one of baseball's most accurate umpires. He made his MLB debut back in 2014 and was included on the major league staff from 2017 onward. He received significant acclaim after calling the first-ever "umpire's perfect game” during the 2022 World Series, accurately adjudicating each pitch without error.
This situation underlines not only Hoberg's ascension and fall from grace but also MLB's unwavering vigilance when it pertains to safeguarding the integrity of baseball. Such measures aim to assure fans and players alike of the sport's honesty and fair play, especially at times when the lines between sports and betting become increasingly blurred.
While Hoberg must now reflect on this setback and learn from it, the message from MLB stands clear: it will not tolerate any behavior perceived as undermining the principles of fair competition and integrity. The league draws the line firmly, protecting both athletes and enthusiasts from the potential perils associated with gambling.