Longtime umpire Ángel Hernández, who previously filed a lawsuit against Major League Baseball for racial discrimination, has announced his immediate retirement.
Throughout a career spanning over 30 years, 62-year-old Hernández faced criticism from players, managers, and fans for his missed calls and rapid ejections, especially in high-profile situations.
Hernández has announced through MLB on Monday night that he has made the decision to prioritize spending more quality time with his family.
In 1991, when I officiated my first major league game, I embarked on a remarkable journey of fulfilling my childhood dream of becoming a major league umpire. It has been an incredible experience to work in a profession that brings me so much joy and satisfaction. One of the things I value the most is the camaraderie among my colleagues and the lasting friendships I have forged over the years, including the wonderful relationships I have developed with our locker room attendants in different cities.
“I have witnessed numerous positive transformations in the world of baseball since I first joined the profession. One significant change that stands out is the increased representation and recognition of minorities. I take great pride in the fact that I actively contributed to this objective as a major league umpire.”
In a blow to Hernández, his racial discrimination lawsuit against MLB suffered another defeat last summer. The 2nd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals upheld a 2021 District Court decision that granted MLB a summary judgment, effectively dismissing Hernández’s case for a second time.
In 2017, Hernández filed a lawsuit claiming that he had been subjected to discrimination. According to his allegations, he had not been assigned to the World Series since 2005 and had been overlooked for the position of crew chief. From 2011 to 2016, he had served as an interim crew chief.
The 2nd Circuit, in its 11-page decision, stated that Hernández did not succeed in proving a significant disparity in promotion rates between white and minority umpires. MLB, on the other hand, presented compelling expert evidence that demonstrated the lack of statistical significance in crew chief promotion rates between the two groups during the relevant years. Hernández, however, failed to provide any explanation as to why MLB’s statistical evidence should be considered unreliable.
Hernández suffered a back injury last season, which kept him out of action until July 31. He had the opportunity to play as a catcher eight times this year, with his final game taking place on May 9 against the Cleveland Guardians and the Chicago White Sox.
According to undisclosed sources, both USA Today and ESPN have reported that Hernández has reached a settlement to depart from MLB. It was stated that the parties involved engaged in negotiations for the past two weeks, eventually reaching a financial agreement over the weekend.
Hernández, who was born in Cuba, began his career as a major league umpire in 1993. Throughout his tenure, he officiated in two World Series (2002, 2005), three All-Star Games (1999, 2009, 2017), and eight League Championship Series. His most recent LCS assignment was in 2016.
In the 2018 AL Division Series Game 3, the New York Yankees faced off against the Boston Red Sox. During this game, Hernández found himself in the spotlight as three of his calls at first base were overturned after being reviewed on video replay.
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