Umpire Pat Hoberg officially fired by MLB for gambling violations
MLB began its investigation into Hoberg during February 2024 after he chose to open an account with a licensed sports betting operator under his own name.
Key Points
- Hoberg was found to have “shared” sports betting accounts with a longtime friend and professional poker player who bet on baseball
- There was no direct evidence found that Hoberg bet on baseball himself, though, or manipulated games that he was working
Major League Baseball (MLB) announced on February 3 that it would be upholding its decision to fire umpire Pat Hoberg following an investigation that found Hoberg “shared” sports betting accounts with a longtime friend and professional poker player that bet on baseball.
Hoberg released a statement through the MLB Umpires Association (MLBUA) after the decision by MLB became official, having said, “I take full responsibility for the errors in judgment that are outlined in today’s statement. Those errors will always be a source of shame and embarrassment to me.
“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.”
No direct evidence was found that would lead investigators to believe Hoberg bet on baseball himself or manipulated games that he had been working. MLB began its investigation into Hoberg during February 2024 after the former umpire opened an account with a licensed sports betting operator under his own name.
Good to know: FanDuel and a commercial affiliate of the Major League Baseball Players Association reached settlement for an ongoing lawsuit on November 18, 2024
The operator went on to detect that Hoberg’s personal electronic device associated with the new account was also connected to the account of an individual who had bet on baseball. Additionally, Hoberg was found to have intentionally deleted messages central to MLB’s investigation.
He was therefore removed from spring training and made inactive prior to the 2024 season, pending completion of the league’s investigation.
Hoberg can apply for reinstatement, but no earlier than the start of spring training in 2026. He first umpired major league games in 2014 and became a full-time umpire during 2017, eventually advancing to work postseason games every year from 2018 to 2022.
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