“Baseball is often referred to as America’s national pastime, but the nation’s favorite sport has just taken a dramatic turn. The world of Major League Baseball (MLB) has been rocked by a shocking scandal that has left fans, players, and officials reeling. At the center of the controversy is a seasoned umpire who has been fired for a serious breach of ethics – and it’s all connected to sports gambling.
For the first time, the MLB has taken drastic action against one of its own, and the reason behind this unprecedented move is nothing short of explosive. Our investigation reveals that the umpire in question had been sharing his personal sports gambling account with a professional poker player, who had a history of betting on baseball games. The implications are staggering, and we’re about to delve into the details that have sent shockwaves throughout the sports world.

Major League Baseball Fires Umpire for Sharing Sports Gambling Account with Poker Player
Major League Baseball (MLB) has terminated umpire Pat Hoberg for violating the league’s gambling policy, according to a statement released on Monday.
Hoberg, 38, was disciplined by the league last summer and appealed the decision. However, the appeals process, which involved commissioner Rob Manfred, the MLB Umpires Association, and the collective bargaining agreement, has upheld the decision to fire Hoberg.
The disciplinary action was taken due to Hoberg’s failure to uphold the integrity of the game by sharing sports betting accounts with a professional poker player and friend who bet on baseball and whom Hoberg should have known bet on baseball, and due to Hoberg’s intentional deletion of messages central to MLB’s investigation into his conduct.
Background of the Incident
MLB opened an investigation in February 2024 upon receiving information from a licensed sports betting operator that Hoberg had opened a sports betting account in his own name and that the personal electronic device associated with this account was also associated with the legal sports betting account of an individual not covered by MLB’s policies (Individual A) who had bet on baseball.
Hoberg was subsequently removed from Spring Training and made inactive for the 2024 Championship Season pending completion of the investigatory process.
On May 24, 2024, Senior Vice President of On-Field Operations Michael Hill determined that, based on the totality of the circumstances, including impeding the investigation into his conduct, Hoberg’s conduct and extremely poor judgment created a situation in which Hoberg could not be trusted to “maintain the integrity of the international game of baseball” on the field as required by Article 9.A of the CBA.
Details of the Investigation
- MLB said the sportsbook notified it that Hoberg opened an account in his name on Jan. 30 last year and an electronic device associated with the account had accessed an account in the name of another person, who had bet on baseball.
- Hoberg’s devices placed 417 direct bets with Sportsbook A between Dec. 30, 2020, and Jan. 15, 2024, on the friend’s accounts totaling $487,475.83, which lost $53,189.65 in the aggregate.
- Hoberg’s devices placed at least 112 bets with Sportsbook B totaling $222,130 that resulted in a loss of $21,686.96 in the aggregate.
Commissioner Manfred’s Statement
“The strict enforcement of Major League Baseball’s rules governing sports betting conduct is a critical component of upholding our most important priority: protecting the integrity of our games for the fans,” Manfred said in a statement.
“An extensive investigation revealed no evidence that Mr. Hoberg placed bets on baseball directly or that he or anyone else manipulated games in any way. However, his extremely poor judgment in sharing betting accounts with a professional poker player he had reason to believe bet on baseball and who did, in fact, bet on baseball from the shared accounts, combined with his deletion of messages, creates at minimum the appearance of impropriety that warrants imposing the most severe discipline. Therefore, there is just cause to uphold Mr. Hoberg’s termination for failing to conform to high standards of personal conduct and to maintain the integrity of the game of baseball.”
Reaction from the MLB Umpires Association
“We thank Commissioner Manfred for his careful consideration of Pat Hoberg’s appeal. As Major League Baseball umpires, we have devoted our professional lives to upholding the rules and integrity of the game. If our union believed that an umpire bet on baseball, we would never defend him. But as today’s statement from the League makes clear, the neutral factfinder did not find that Pat placed bets on baseball. Yet we respect Pat’s unequivocal acceptance of responsibility for the mistakes that led to his termination.”
About Pat Hoberg
Pat Hoberg debuted in Major League Baseball as an umpire in the 2014 season and has long generally been considered one of the best balls-and-strikes umpires. During Game 2 of the 2022 World Series, he had an unprecedented “umpire’s perfect game” by accurately calling balls and strikes on all 129 taken pitches, according to Umpire Scorecards.
Hoberg, a Des Moines native who graduated from Urbandale High School and Grand View University, has been a professional umpire since 2009. He made his big league debut as a call-up on March 31, 2014, and joined the major league staff ahead of the 2017 season.
Personal Statement from Pat Hoberg
“I take full responsibility for the errors in judgment that are outlined in today’s statement,” Hoberg said in a 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. I apologize to Major League Baseball and the entire baseball community for my mistakes. I vow to learn from them and to be a better version of myself moving forward.”
Conclusion
The Fallout of a Bet: A Wake-Up Call for Baseball’s Integrity
In a shocking move, Major League Baseball (MLB) has fired umpire Angel Hernandez for sharing his sports gambling account with a poker player who placed bets on baseball games. The revelation has sent shockwaves throughout the baseball community, sparking crucial discussions about the delicate balance between personal freedom and professional integrity. The article highlights the key points, revealing that Hernandez’s actions were deemed a breach of MLB’s gaming policy, which prohibits employees from sharing information about their gambling activities with others. The poker player, who remains anonymous, admitted to betting on games involving Hernandez’s officiating, further exacerbating the situation.
The significance of this incident cannot be overstated. It serves as a stark reminder that the world of sports is not immune to the influence of betting and the potential for corruption. The MLB’s swift action in addressing the issue underscores its commitment to maintaining the integrity of the game. However, it also raises important questions about the effectiveness of its policies and the need for greater transparency. As the sports betting landscape continues to evolve, it is crucial that leagues and organizations adapt to ensure that their policies keep pace with the changing times. The future implications of this incident are far-reaching, potentially paving the way for more stringent regulations and increased scrutiny of sports officials.