Ángel Hernández, the controversial Major League Baseball umpire, has reportedly retired after a lengthy career in the sport. Known for his high-profile mistakes and the sharp criticism he received from players and managers, Hernández negotiated a financial settlement with MLB before officially retiring. Despite his many years in the league, Hernández’s name became disproportionately recognizable due to controversial incidents rather than general incompetence.
Hernández had a relatively low accuracy rate of 93.2 percent in calling balls and strikes, ranking him 63rd among MLB umpires this season. Starting his professional career in 1981, Hernández became a full-time National League umpire in 1993, making him one of the longest-tenured umpires in the game’s history. In a high-profile incident in 2013, Hernández made a critical error in ruling a fly ball as a double instead of a home run, leading to the Oakland A’s losing the game.
In addition to on-field mistakes, Hernández faced allegations of eavesdropping on a call between league official Joe Torre and another umpire in 2019. Popular figures in baseball, including manager Ron Washington, Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez, and former MVP Bryce Harper, criticized Hernández for various incidents throughout his career. Despite these controversies, the lawsuit he brought against MLB for racial discrimination in 2017 was dismissed twice for a lack of evidence.
Hernández’s retirement marks the end of an era in MLB umpiring, as he was one of the most recognizable names among fans and players alike. While his departure may be seen as a loss for the league in terms of experience, it also signifies the end of an era of frustration for many fans who viewed Hernández as a frequent target of criticism. Ultimately, Hernández’s legacy in baseball will be defined by his controversial incidents and the impact they had on the game.
