Angel Hernandez, a controversial figure in Major League Baseball, will reportedly retire on Tuesday after 34 seasons of umpiring.
Longtime Major League Baseball umpire Angel Hernandez is set to retire on Tuesday, according to a report by USA Today. Hernandez, 62, has been an MLB umpire since 1991 and has worked throughout the majors since 2000.
Hernandez has gained a reputation as one of the worst umpires in the majors, frequently drawing criticism for his poor calls. Recently, Hernandez came under fire for several egregious calls in a game against the Texas Rangers.
In one instance, Hernandez called Texas Rangers rookie Wyatt Langford out on strikes on three consecutive sliders that were well outside the strike zone. The third strike missed the plate by 6.78 inches, making it one of the most inaccurate calls in recent MLB history.
Overall, Hernandez called seven pitches strikes that were actually balls by more than three inches in that game. His 78% hit rate was significantly lower than the average umpire's 88%.
Hernandez's poor performance has been a subject of much discussion and controversy. Cy Young Award winner C.C. Sabathia once publicly criticized Hernandez, stating that he should not be umpiring postseason games.
In recent years, MLB has come under pressure to implement an automated strike zone system. Commissioner Rob Manfred has acknowledged a "growing consensus" on the need for such a system, which has been used in the minor leagues.
Hernandez has also been involved in legal proceedings against MLB. In 2017, he filed a lawsuit alleging racial discrimination. In the lawsuit, Hernandez claimed that he had been denied promotions and assignments to prestigious games due to his race.
In March 2021, Hernandez lost his lawsuit. The court ruled that there was insufficient evidence to support his claims of racial discrimination.
Despite his controversial career, Hernandez has umpired three All-Star Games, 12 ALDS, eight ALCS, and two World Series. His departure from MLB will likely be met with mixed reactions.
