Major League Baseball (MLB) umpire Pat Hoberg has been disciplined by the league for a violation of its gambling rules, as reported by The Athletic. Hoberg, who has been officiating MLB games since 2014 and became a full-time umpire in 2017, is appealing the decision.

The exact nature of Hoberg's violation has not been disclosed, but MLB stated that there was no evidence of him manipulating the games he officiated. The league initiated an investigation into the 37-year-old umpire during this year's spring training and subsequently removed him from the field throughout the investigation.

ESPN's Jeff Passan reported that Hoberg denied betting on baseball. In a statement to The Athletic, MLB explained, "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."

The timing of this gambling scandal involving a respected umpire couldn't have come at a worse time for MLB. The league had just begun the season amidst the Ippei Mizuhara-Shohei Ohtani scandal, which dominated media coverage for weeks. Last week, the issue resurfaced when it was discovered that San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano bet on games involving his own team, resulting in a lifetime ban from MLB. Additionally, four other players - Oakland Athletics reliever Michael Kelly, Padres pitcher Jay Groome, Philadelphia Phillies infielder José Rodríguez, and Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Andrew Saalfrank - were suspended for one year for gambling on baseball.

Hoberg, who earned a reputation as one of the most accurate umpires in the game, received recognition for his work behind the plate during the 2022 World Series, where he was praised for his performance in calling a "perfect game." His involvement in the gambling scandal adds further scrutiny to MLB's efforts to maintain the integrity of the game.

As the appeals process unfolds, the future of Pat Hoberg's umpiring career hangs in the balance. MLB will keenly monitor the proceedings to ensure a fair resolution, while the league's reputation and commitment to combating gambling-related issues continues to be tested.