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Top MLB umpire punished for breaking gambling rules as sport faces next betting scandal in the wake of Shohei Ohtani interpreter drama
Major League Baseball umpire Pat Hoberg has reportedly been disciplined for violating the league's gambling rules.
During Spring Training, MLB began an investigation regarding Hoberg and a potential violation of the gambling policies. It did not find that Hoberg manipulated or compromised any game he worked.
Yet, MLB upheld its unspecified discipline of Hoberg, per The Athletic.
Hoberg is appealing the discipline he was handed down.
The appeals process is being heard by commissioner Rob Manfred and the league has decided not to comment further until the conclusion of said process.
MLB umpire Pat Hoberg has been disciplined by the league for violating its gambling rules
Hoberg had worked last season, but has not appeared in any Major League Baseball games in 2024.
He became a full-time MLB umpire back in 2017 and began umpiring professionally back in 2009.
Hoberg, 37, is considered one of the league's best umpires and even worked the 2022 World Series between the Houston Astros and the Philadelphia Phillies.
During the game he worked behind the plate, Hoberg earned a perfect score from the tracking site umpscorecards.com.
Sports betting problems have dominated the headlines during this MLB season with Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, pleading gulity to fraud charges by stealing money from the Dodgers star to pay for his gambling debt.
In addition to Mizuhara, the league recently banned up-and-coming star Tucupita Marcano for life after he was found to be gambling on baseball. Four other players were banned for a year for gambling on baseball as well.
According to The Athletic, the investigation into Hoberg is independent from the ban on Marcano and the four others.
Hoberg is considered one of MLB's best umpires and even called the 2022 World Series
Much like players, umpires are also covered under the MLB statute that regulates gambling, known as Rule 21.
Anyone found to have gambled on a baseball game that they are directly tied to - in other words, 'any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform' - is to be permanently banned from playing in the major leagues.
Betting on baseball games one is not a part of will lead to a one-year suspension and other violations are subject to various other punishments.