Major League Baseball (MLB) has fired umpire Pat Hoberg, 38, after a lengthy appeals process. The decision comes after an investigation found that Hoberg shared his legal sports betting accounts with a friend who bet on baseball, and he intentionally deleted messages key to the investigation.
Hoberg denied directly betting on baseball or manipulating game outcomes but was fired for failing to uphold the integrity of the game. He is best known for his perfect performance in Game 2 of the 2022 World Series.
The investigation found that eight out of 141 baseball bets placed through Hoberg’s friend’s accounts involved games he umpired or had responsibility for replay reviews. However, no evidence suggested Hoberg manipulated game outcomes.
Hoberg will not be eligible for reinstatement until spring training in 2026 and has apologized for his mistakes. The Major League Umpires Association (MLBUA) also expressed its support for the decision, stating that if an umpire had bet on baseball, they would never defend them.
Source: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/43680990/mlb-upholds-firing-ump-pat-hoberg-gambling-violations