• Loading stock data...
Sunday, August 24, 2025
The biggest names in sports media. All in one room. Buy tickets now!

MLB Fires Umpire Pat Hoberg: Third Gambling Scandal in Under a Year

Pat Hoberg had been one of MLB’s most highly regarded umpires. Now he’s at the center of the third major gambling scandal to rock the sport in the last year.

Aug 22, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora (13) talks with home plate umpire Pat Hoberg as Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander (35) adjusts his PitchCom device during the second inning at Minute Maid Park.
Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Less than a year after the Ippei Mizuhara and Tucupita Marcano scandals rocked MLB, the sport has had a major gambling issue arise once more, as the league has fired umpire Pat Hoberg for sharing betting accounts with a friend who bet actively on the sport. 

Hoberg was fired after a roughly year-long investigation, including an appeal of an initial termination decision, which found he shared betting accounts with a professional poker player, and also intentionally deleted messages that were central to the probe into his conduct. MLB did not find any activity that Hoberg himself bet on baseball or manipulated the outcomes of games, and he also stridently denies any such activity. 

The league, however, still concluded Hoberg failed to “uphold the integrity of the game.”

“His extremely poor judgment … creates at minimum the appearance of impropriety that warrants imposing the most severe discipline,” said MLB commissioner Rob Manfred.

Hoberg can apply for reinstatement upon the start of spring training in 2026. He has been an MLB umpire since 2014, full-time since 2017, and widely regarded as one of the league’s best. Computer tracking even determined Hoberg had an “umpire’s perfect game” during Game 2 of the 2022 World Series, correctly calling balls and strikes on all 129 taken pitches. 

“I apologize to Major League Baseball and the entire baseball community for my mistakes,” Hoberg said. “I vow to learn from them and to be a better version of myself.”

Latest Episode

The Hoberg firing represents the third major incidence of gambling-related violations in MLB since last spring. Mizuhara, the former interpreter and friend of Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani, was found to have stolen more than $16 million from the phenom to fund his gambling addiction. He pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud last June and is now awaiting sentencing.

Marcano was banned for life in June after investigators found that he placed hundreds of bets on MLB games while in the minor leagues. 

Across the industry, however, match-fixing continues to drop, thanks in part to improved monitoring and advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence to flag betting anomalies. 

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Samuel Basallo

Orioles Give Catcher Record Extension Amid Adley Rutschman’s Stunning Fall

Samuel Basallo’s reported $67M deal would be a record for pre-arbitration catchers.

$2B A’s Vegas Stadium Hits Milestones, on Track for 2028

Construction progress and costs pick up in the Las Vegas project.
Mo Vaughn

How Michael Bloomberg Jump-Started Mo Vaughn’s Business Career

The Red Sox legend had a sprawling housing empire before starting a podcast.
Jul 13, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announces the pick for the Athletics pick during the MLB Draft at The Coca-Cola Roxy.

MLB Confident New Rights Will Exceed $550M ESPN Deal

MLB would redistribute rights forfeited by ESPN back in February.

Featured Today

The Honey Deuce Effect: How Tennis Perfected the Signature Cocktail

Sold every 1.5 seconds, they totaling more than $12 million in sales.
Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) warms up as the Texas Longhorns prepare to play the Clemson Tigers in the first round of the College Football Playoffs at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium.
August 23, 2025

Schools Are Hesitant to Allow PE Into Their Athletic Departments

Regardless of budget, schools don’t believe the risk is worth the reward.
Oct 2, 2024; Rosemont, IL, USA; Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti speaks with the media during the 2024 Big Ten Women’s Basketball media day at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.
August 22, 2025

‘Not Ready to Jump In’: Power 4 Commissioners Aren’t Sold on PE

Top leaders in college sports have yet to see a satisfactory proposal.
Nov 23, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin looks at quarterback Drew Allar (15) during the first quarter against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Huntington Bank Stadium.
August 22, 2025

Private Equity Enters College Sports—Without the Equity

As college football starts, lending agreements have become PE’s best way in.
Malik Beasley

Malik Beasley Could Still Be Charged in Gambling Probe Despite Feds Dropping..

Beasley’s lawyer is hoping his client can return to the NBA.
Dec 18, 2024; Inglewood, CA, USA; UNLV Rebels defensive back Rashod Tanner (41) celebrates after defeating the California Golden Bears in the LA Bowl at SoFi Stadium.
August 20, 2025

Robinhood Reactivates Sports Contracts in NJ and NV, Sues State Regulators

The suits were filed the same day Robinhood announced new football offerings.
A view of the FanDuel Sportsbook betting area at Belterra Park Cincinnati.
August 20, 2025

FanDuel Enters Prediction Markets, but With No Sports

The company is partnering with derivatives exchange CME Group.
Sponsored

Building A Pro League From Scratch

Front Office Sports and Gainbridge® spotlight what it takes to build a professional women’s soccer league.
Jan 20, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes running back Quinshon Judkins (1) and quarterback Will Howard (18) celebrate after a touchdown against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the second half the CFP National Championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
August 19, 2025

Robinhood to Roll Out Football Prediction Markets

The new event contracts come on the heels of Kalshi’s expanded football offerings.
August 18, 2025

Limitations on Prop Bets Supported by NBA, Players’ Union

The union is trying to combat online and in-person harassment.
Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) against the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Bowl LIX at Ceasars Superdome.
exclusive
August 18, 2025

Kalshi Adds Touchdown Props, Over/Unders Amid Legal Uncertainty

The company is not cowed by its legal challenges.
Feb 5, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; The ESPN logo at the Super Bowl LIX media center at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.
August 15, 2025

New ESPN App to Feature Heavy Betting Integration

The new app launches Aug. 21.