Major League Baseball has announced the departure of long-time umpire, Cuban-American Ángel Hernández.
Hernández has had a three-decade-long career with MLB, and over those years, he has generated a controversial reputation among fans. According to USA TODAY, Hernández and MLB concluded discussions over a financial settlement over the weekend.
The umpire started his professional career in 1981 with the Florida State League at 20 years old. Hernández entered the MLB scene in 1991, and by 1993, he became a full-time umpire with the MLB. His last game was the Chicago White Sox vs. Cleveland Guardians game on May 9. Additionally, Hernández last umpired in a World Series game or League Championship Series in 2005 and 2016, respectively.
“There have been many positive changes in the game of baseball since I first entered the profession,” said Hernández in a statement. “This includes the expansion and promotion of minorities. I am proud that I was able to be an active participant in that goal while being a major league umpire.”
“Starting with my first major league game in 1991, I have had the very good experience of living out my childhood dream of umpiring in the major leagues. I treasured the camaraderie of my colleagues and the friendships I have made along the way. I have decided that I want to spend more time with my family,” Hernández continued.
Despite not being the worst umpire statistically, Hernández remains one of the most reviled umpires by fans and players alike. This unfortunate reputation is due to Hernández’s calls, which many have said were blatantly wrong.
“Whenever I watched or went to a game, no matter what team, when you saw that Ángel Hernández was behind the plate, you knew it was going to be a disaster,” said NYU professor Roberta Newman to BBC News.
“This isn’t just a matter of opinion. He misses calls constantly and is wildly inaccurate,” Newman continued.
Hernández gained even more notoriety following his lawsuit against MLB for racial discrimination in 2017. The lawsuit was likely due to Hernández not receiving similar opportunities to others in his position, such as a promotion to crew chief. His lawsuit was rejected by a federal appeals court in 2023.
