Much-maligned MLB umpire quitting
Ángel Hernández, the polarizing veteran umpire who drew the ire and exasperation of players, managers and fans over three decades, is retiring from Major League Baseball, a senior baseball official told USA TODAY Sports.
MLB and Hernández spent the past two weeks negotiating a financial agreement before reaching a resolution over the weekend.
The longtime referee confirmed his retirement in a statement to USA TODAY Sports on Monday night:
“Starting with my first major league game in 1991, I had the great experience of living my childhood dream of umpiring in the major leagues. I valued the camaraderie of my colleagues and the friendships I made along the way.
“I decided I want to spend more time with my family.”
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Hernández, 62, worked his last game on May 9 as a home plate umpire in the Chicago White Sox’s 3-2 victory over the Cleveland Guardians at Guaranteed Rate Field and never returned, replaced on the staff by Jacob Metz.
Hernández, baseball’s most controversial umpire, filed a racial discrimination lawsuit in 2017 against MLB, alleging he was passed over for the crew chief position and World Series assignments because of race. He last umpired a World Series game in 2005 and a League Championship Series game in 2016.
The lawsuit was dismissed in U.S. District Court in 2021, granting MLB summary judgment. The 2It is The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the decision last year.
“Hernández failed to establish a statistically significant disparity between the promotion rates of white and minority referees,” the appeals court said in its 11-page decision. “MLB provided persuasive expert evidence demonstrating that, during the years in question, the difference in crew chief promotion rates between white and minority umpires was not statistically significant. Hernández offers no explanation as to why MLB’s statistical evidence is unreliable.”
Hernández, a Cuban-American, began officiating professionally at age 20 in the Florida State League.
“There have been many positive changes in the game of baseball since I entered the profession,” Hernández said in his statement Monday. “This includes the expansion and advancement of minorities. I am proud to have been an active participant in that goal while I was a major league umpire.”
He was promoted to full-time MLB umpire in 1993, and in recent years was considered by players and managers to be the worst umpire in the game.
He was criticized on social media early on April 12 of this season when Texas Rangers rookie Wyatt Langford struck out on three consecutive pitches that were outside the strike zone. He missed seven other pitchers who were at least three inches outside the strike zone.
Hernandez worked just 10 games last season due to a back injury, but missed 161 calls, according to Referee Auditor.
He had three overturned decisions at first base in Game 3 of the 2018 American League Division Series between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, with Hall of Fame pitcher Pedro Martinez criticizing him on TBS.
“Ángel was horrible,” he said. “Don’t make me continue with Ángel now. Major League Baseball needs to do something about Ángel. No matter how many times he sues Major League Baseball, he’s as bad as there is.”
Said Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia after the game: “I don’t understand why he’s throwing these games. He is always bad. He’s a terrible referee.”
Hernandez has never been considered the worst MLB umpire, according to MLB’s studies and statistical reports, but in the court of public opinion, there has been no one who missed more calls as a home plate umpire.
Now, he is out of the game, escaping the ridicule and mockery that has long accompanied him.
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