Major League Baseball recently disciplined umpire Pat Hoberg for violating the league’s gambling rules. This decision came just 10 days after the league handed down a lifetime ban on a player for gambling and suspended four others for a year. Hoberg has denied any involvement in betting on baseball and is currently appealing the discipline that has been imposed on him. While the exact nature of the discipline remains unknown, sources have revealed that Hoberg has not umpired a game this season. MLB released a statement stating that during Spring Training, an investigation was initiated regarding a potential violation of MLB’s sports betting policies by Umpire Pat Hoberg. The investigation found no evidence of compromised or manipulated games worked by Hoberg, but discipline was still deemed necessary. Hoberg has chosen to appeal MLB’s determination, halting any further comments until the appeal process is finalized.
If Pat Hoberg is found guilty of betting on baseball, he would be in breach of MLB’s Rule 21. This rule imposes a lifetime ban on individuals who gamble on games they are involved in, and a one-year suspension for those betting on games they are not part of. The most infamous case of a sports official betting on games was NBA referee Tim Donaghy, who received a 15-month federal prison sentence in 2007 for conspiracy to engage in wire fraud and transmitting betting information by wagering on games and providing tips to gamblers. Despite this, Hoberg is known for his exceptional performance as a home-plate umpire, most notably in Game 2 of the World Series, where he accurately called all 129 balls and strikes. He is highly respected in MLB as one of the best ball-strike umpires. Making his major league debut in 2014, Hoberg became a full-time umpire in 2017, and has officiated postseason games annually since 2018, including the 2023 World Baseball Classic pool matches.
In a separate incident, MLB banned San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano for life after a legal sportsbook reported that he had placed bets on games while playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Marcano’s lifetime ban, a rare occurrence for an active player, stemmed from wagering over $150,000 between October 2022 and November 2023. Oakland A’s reliever Michael Kelly and three minor league players, including Arizona reliever Andrew Saalfrank, Padres starter Jay Groome, and Philadelphia infielder Jose Rodriguez, were handed one-year suspensions for betting on major league games while in the minors. Despite betting sums of less than $1,000 each, these players faced consequences for violating MLB’s strict policies on gambling.
Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred emphasized the importance of upholding the integrity of MLB games through the enforcement of rules and policies governing gambling conduct. The longstanding prohibition against betting on baseball has been a fundamental principle of the sport for over a century. By swiftly addressing instances of gambling violations and imposing appropriate discipline on offenders, MLB aims to safeguard the integrity of the game and maintain the trust of fans worldwide. As more cases of gambling infractions come to light, it is evident that MLB remains vigilant in monitoring and addressing such conduct to uphold the values and integrity of the sport.
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