MLB fires umpire Pat Hoberg over shared account with friend who bet on baseball

• League finds no evidence umpire manipulated games
• Hoberg cannot apply for reinstatement until 2026

Umpire Pat Hoberg was fired by Major League Baseball on Monday for sharing his legal sports gambling accounts with a friend who bet on baseball games and for intentionally deleting electronic messages pertinent to the league's investigation.

MLB opened the investigation last February, and Hoberg did not umpire last season. While MLB said the investigation did not uncover evidence Hoberg personally bet on baseball or manipulated games, MLB senior vice president of on-field operations Michael Hill recommended in May last year that Hoberg be fired. Commissioner Rob Manfred said Monday he upheld Hill's decision. Among the highest-rated umpires at judging the strike zone, Hoberg can apply for reinstatement no earlier than 2026 spring training.