Angel Hernandez, one of baseball’s most controversial umpires, has announced his retirement after decades of criticism. The news was confirmed by sources with knowledge of the situation, and Hernandez’s departure is expected to be immediate. While neither Hernandez nor the league has officially confirmed the decision, USA Today was the first to report on it.
Hernandez, who umpired his first MLB game in 1991, has been a constant source of controversy over the past decade. His large and inconsistent strike zone, quick ejections, and unsuccessful discrimination lawsuit against MLB in 2017 have made headlines in a profession where most prefer to fly under the radar. Many players have openly called for Hernandez to leave the industry, expressing frustration with his officiating style and decision-making.
While it is unclear what specifically led to Hernandez’s retirement, it is possible that the relentless criticism he faced played a role. In a recent profile, Hernandez’s lawyer, Kevin Murphy, revealed that the criticism took a toll on Hernandez and his family. Murphy stated that the pain his two daughters and wife experienced from knowing the criticism was unwarranted deeply affected Hernandez.
The retirement negotiations between the league and Hernandez have reportedly been ongoing for the past two weeks, with USA Today reporting that a financial settlement is being discussed. The 62-year-old umpire has not officiated a game since May 9.
MLB itself has been critical of Hernandez, with court filings stating that his decision-making and handling of conflicts prevented him from being promoted to a full-time crew chief position. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred indirectly mentioned Hernandez while discussing the umpire retirement process at MLB’s owners meetings, highlighting the physically demanding nature of the job and the need for umpires to consider their career paths and retirement plans.
Hernandez’s retirement marks the end of an era marred by controversy. While opinions on his officiating may be divided, there is no doubt that his name and style of umpiring have been a topic of discussion and debate throughout the baseball world. As the sport moves forward, it will be interesting to see how umpiring standards evolve and whether future umpires will face similar scrutiny.