Major League Baseball has had its share of gambling scandals involving players since the start of the regular season, and it’s only June.
Now, the league’s sports betting policy issues have hit those who officiate the games.
Veteran umpire Pat Hoberg has been investigated and disciplined for undisclosed gambling violations, MLB announced in a statement on Friday.
"During this year's Spring Training, Major League Baseball commenced an investigation regarding a potential violation of MLB's sports betting policies by Umpire Pat Hoberg,” a league statement said. “Mr. Hoberg was removed from the field during the pendency of that investigation. While MLB's investigation did not find any evidence that games worked by Mr. Hoberg were compromised or manipulated in any way, MLB determined that discipline was warranted.”
Hoberg is highly regarded as one of the top-rated umpires in MLB, and he’s best known for being behind the plate during a perfect game in the 2022 World Series.
Appealing the decision
Hoberg, who has not worked a game this season, is appealing MLB’s decision and has reportedly denied betting on baseball.
Rule 21 states that “any player, umpire, or Club or League official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has no duty to perform, shall be declared ineligible for one year.” Whereas, “Any player, umpire, or Club or League official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform, shall be declared permanently ineligible.”
It’s unclear which part of this rule Hoberg violated or if/when he could umpire MLB games again.
The league said it will have no further comment until the appeal process is complete.
Other violators
San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano received a lifetime ban from baseball on June 4 after an MLB investigation found that he wagered on Pittsburgh Pirates games while he was a member of the team.
Oakland Athletics pitcher Michael Kelly and three minor leaguers – Jay Groome (Padres), José Rodríguez (Philadelphia Phillies), and Andrew Saalfrank (Arizona Diamondbacks) – were suspended for one year for placing bets on baseball games in which they weren’t involved.
Ippei Mizuhara recently pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges after the former interpreter and friend of Shohei Ohtani stole over $16 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers star.
Mizuhara wagered through illegal bookmaker Matthew Bowyer, who has also been linked to infielder David Fletcher, a player in the Atlanta Braves minor league system who reportedly denies placing bets with Bowyer.
While international tennis has had issues with officials being involved in sports betting scandals, that hasn’t been prevalent in U.S. pro sports. The last major incident was in the NBA when referee Tim Donaghy bet on games, aided gamblers, and served 15 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges in 2007.
