Now that betting on sports is so widely available and sports leagues are more comfortable with it than ever, we are expected to see incidents where players or officials get themselves into major trouble for partaking in it.
Such was the case recently in the NBA, and now Major League Baseball is dealing with its own situation yet again.
On Friday, Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich of The Athletic reported that MLB had punished umpire Pat Hoberg over violating gambling regulations.
According to a statement from MLB, the league began investigating Hoberg “regarding a potential violation of MLB’s sports betting policies.”
The statement further said Hoberg was relieved of umpiring duties amid the investigation. While the league did not find evidence that Hoberg “compromised or manipulated” games, it did determine that discipline was warranted.
“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,” MLB said in a statement issued to The Athletic. “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. Mr. Hoberg has chosen to appeal that determination. Therefore, we cannot comment further until the appeal process is concluded.”
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Rosenthal and Drellich report that Pat Hoberg is appealing the decision.
“I am appealing Major League Baseball’s determination that I should be disciplined for violating the sports betting policies,” Hoberg said in a statement (via USA Today). “While that appeal is pending, it would not be appropriate to discuss the case. That said, I have devoted my adult life to the profession of umpiring, and the integrity of baseball is of the utmost importance to me. I look forward to the appeal process, and I am grateful that the Major League Baseball Umpires Association is supporting me in the appeal.”
Umpires are subject to Rule 21 in Major League Baseball, which forbids players and personnel from betting on baseball and being associated with illegal bookmakers.
Currently, the exact nature of Hoberg’s betting activity is unknown.
Also Read: Social Media Uncovers Evidence Exposing Shohei Ohtani For Throwing Games As Part Of Betting Scandal
Hoberg became a full-time MLB umpire in 2017 but has not appeared on the field during the 2024 season after working last year.
Pat Hoberg’s Gambling Situation Comes On The Heels of What Happened With Shohei Ohtani
Pat Hoberg’s removal from his duties as an umpire reminds everyone of what happened with Shoehei Ohtani earlier this year.
Ippei Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani’s longtime interpreter, pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud charges after he was accused of stealing as much as $17 million from the Dodgers superstar through a series of wire transfers to pay for his gambling debts.
He is facing up to 33 years in prison.
