Major League Baseball umpire Angel Hernandez has retired after more than 30 years in the league, following a financial settlement with MLB. The 62-year-old’s last game was on May 9, marking the end of his career that began in 1991. Hernandez’s retirement comes after MLB approached him earlier in the season about potentially retiring, with negotiations for the settlement taking place over the past two weeks.
In a statement, Hernandez expressed his gratitude for living out his childhood dream of umpiring in the major leagues since 1991. He mentioned treasuring the camaraderie with colleagues and the friendships he made along the way. Hernandez cited a desire to spend more time with his family as the reason for his retirement, acknowledging the positive changes in baseball, including the promotion of minorities, in which he took pride in being a part of.
Throughout his career, Hernandez faced criticism from players and fans for his calls, particularly his strike zone as a home-plate umpire. He filed a lawsuit against MLB in 2017, alleging racial discrimination for not becoming a crew chief or receiving World Series assignments. The lawsuit was dismissed in 2021, with a federal appeals court denying his request to reinstate the case in the following year.
Hernandez’s retirement marks the end of a controversial tenure as an MLB umpire, with his career highlighted by both praise and scrutiny for his officiating. Despite the challenges he faced, Hernandez leaves behind a legacy in baseball that will be remembered for years to come.