While MLB has reaped financial benefits of sports gambling popularity increasing amid becoming legal in a growing number of states, this season has brought about multiple scandals.
Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter was discovered to have bet with an illegal bookmaker and promptly was fired by the Los Angeles Dodgers. MLB and federal authorities launched separate investigations into Ohtani and Ippei Mizuhara that spanned multiple months.
Mizuhara ultimately pleaded guilty to tax and bank fraud. Authorities determined Mizuhara stole nearly $17 million from Ohtani in order to pay off his gambling debts.
As that process was unfolding, MLB quietly began investigating umpire Pat Hoberg and has since taken disciplinary action for a matter related to violating the league’s gambling rules, per Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich of The Athletic:
“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. “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.”
A rule in the MLB collective bargaining agreement prohibits players and team employees from betting on baseball, even if done so legally. MLB also does not permit gambling on any other sports with illegal or offshore bookmakers. The policies apply to umpires as well.
“Any player, umpire, or Club or League official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has no duty to perform, shall be declared ineligible for one year,” Rule 21 states.
“Any player, umpire, or Club or League official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform, shall be declared permanently ineligible.”
Earlier this month, MLB permanently banned Tucupita Marcano (San Diego Padres) after a league investigation found he placed numerous MLB-related bets.
Michael Kelly (Oakland Athletics), Jay Groome (Padres), José Rodríguez (Philadelphia Phillies) and Andrew Saalfrank (Arizona Diamondbacks) were each suspended one year for violating MLB’s gambling rules as well.
MLB Umpires Association statement on Pat Hoberg
While the appeal process is underway, Hoberg and the MLB Umpires Association are remaining mum on the matter.
“The Major League Baseball Umpires Association was made aware in Spring Training that Umpire Pat Hoberg was being investigated for potential violation of Major League Baseball’s sports betting policies,” they said in a statement.
“We have been working with Pat since then. We are now appealing the discipline issued by Major League Baseball. Because the appeal process is ongoing, the Union cannot discuss the matter. We will have no further comment until the appeal process is complete.”
Hoberg added in his own statement: “I am appealing Major League Baseball’s determination that I should be disciplined for violating the sports betting policies. 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.”
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