Erich Bacchus

Last updated

Erich Bacchus
Born: (1990-11-02) November 2, 1990 (age 33)
Germantown, Maryland
MLB debut
August 7, 2020
Career highlights and awards
Special Assignments

Erich Bacchus (born November 2, 1990) is an American professional baseball umpire. He has been an umpire in Major League Baseball since 2020 and was promoted to the full-time umpiring staff in 2023. [1] Bacchus wears uniform number 12. [1]

Contents

Career

Bacchus graduated from the Wendelstedt umpiring school in 2012 and began his career in 2017, umpiring in the Arizona League, New York-Penn League, Florida Instructional League, South Atlantic League, Carolina League, Eastern League and International League. He also worked one season in the summer collegiate Coastal Plain League [2] as part of an umpire development agreement with Major League Baseball. [3] During that time, he was chosen as an umpire for the 2017 All-Star Futures Game, [4] and the 2019 International League Championship Series. [5]

He made his Major League debut on August 7, 2020 as the second base umpire during a game between the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. [6]

On September 21, 2023, Bacchus called a near-perfect game, missing just one call at home plate in the Los Angeles Dodgers-San Francisco Giants matchup. [7] Bacchus' game was the compared to that of Pat Hoberg, who called a similarly perfect game in Game 2 of the 2022 World Series. [8]

On May 16, 2024, Bacchus ejected Houston Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco for using a foreign substance on his glove while pitching. According to the umpire, it was "the stickiest stuff I’ve felt on a glove". [9] The next month, he was criticized for a call during a June 6 game between the San Diego Padres and the Arizona Diamondbacks, which saw Bacchus call Jake Cronenworth out on a third-strike call on a high pitch. [10]

Bacchus has served as an instructor at the Wendelstedt Umpiring School since 2016. [11]

Personal life

An avid runner, Bacchus competed in a half marathon on behalf of "Umpire Cares Charities" in Holly Springs, NC. [3]

He holds dual citizenship, as a citizen of both the United States and Switzerland. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Umpire (baseball)</span> Person charged with officiating a baseball game

In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump. They are also sometimes addressed as blue at lower levels due to the common color of the uniform worn by umpires. In professional baseball, the term blue is seldom used by players or managers, who instead call the umpire by name. Although games were often officiated by a sole umpire in the formative years of the sport, since the turn of the 20th century, officiating has been commonly divided among several umpires, who form the umpiring crew. The position is analogous to that of a referee in many other sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chuck Meriwether</span> American baseball umpire (1956-2019)

Julius Edward "Chuck" Meriwether was a Major League Baseball (MLB) umpire. After working in the American League (AL) from 1988 to 1999, he umpired in both leagues from 2000 to 2009. Meriwether originally wore number 32, but in 2004 switched to number 14.

Harry Hunter Wendelstedt Jr. was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the National League from 1966 to 1998. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Wendelstedt umpired in the World Series in 1973, 1980, 1986, 1991 and 1995, serving as crew chief in 1980 and 1995. He also officiated in seven National League Championship Series and four All-Star games, calling balls and strikes in 1976. Wendelstedt umpired in the National League Division Series in 1995, 1996 and 1997. He wore uniform number 21.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doug Eddings</span> American baseball umpire (born 1968)

Douglas Leon Eddings is an American professional umpire in Major League Baseball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe West (umpire)</span> American baseball umpire (born 1952)

Joseph Henry West, nicknamed "Cowboy Joe" or "Country Joe", is an American former baseball umpire. He worked in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1976 to 2021, umpiring an MLB-record 43 seasons and 5,460 games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Layne</span> American baseball umpire (born 1958)

Jerry Blake Layne is an American umpire in Major League Baseball who has worked in the National League between 1989 and 1999, and throughout both major leagues since 2000. He wore uniform number 24 in the NL, but when MLB merged the AL and NL umpiring staffs in 2000, Layne was forced to switch to number 26, as AL umpire Al Clark, who also wore 24, had more seniority. When Clark was fired midway through the 2001 season by MLB, Layne reclaimed number 24 and has worn it ever since. With Joe West's retirement in 2022, Layne became MLB's most senior active umpire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ted Barrett</span> American baseball umpire (born 1965)

Edward George Barrett is an American retired Major League Baseball umpire. He joined the American League's staff in 1994, and worked throughout both major leagues from 2000 until his retirement in 2022. Promoted to crew chief in 2013, Barrett worked in 33 play-off series, including five World Series. He retired following the 2022 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Runge</span> American baseball umpire (born 1970)

Brian Edward Runge is a former umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the National League in 1999 and throughout both major leagues from 2000 to 2012; he wore uniform number 18, and previously 71.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hunter Wendelstedt</span> American baseball umpire (born 1971)

Harry Hunter Wendelstedt III is an American baseball umpire who has worked in the National League in 1998–1999 and throughout both major leagues since 2000. His father Harry Hunter Wendelstedt, Jr. was an NL umpire from 1966 to 1998. Hunter Wendelstedt goes by his middle name to avoid confusion with his father.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Wegner</span> American baseball umpire (born 1972)

Mark Patrick Wegner is an American Major League Baseball umpire. He worked in the National League from 1998 to 1999, and throughout both major leagues since 2000. He was promoted to Crew Chief for the 2018 MLB season when Dale Scott retired after the 2017 MLB season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phil Cuzzi</span> American baseball umpire (born 1955)

Philip Cuzzi is an American professional baseball umpire in Major League Baseball (MLB). He worked as a reserve umpire in the National League (NL) from 1991 to 1993 and returned to the NL in 1999. Since 2000, he has worked in both major leagues. Cuzzi wore number 99 when his career started; he now wears number 10.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Fletcher (umpire)</span> American baseball umpire (born 1966)

Andrew Jay Fletcher is an American umpire in Major League Baseball, wearing number 49. He worked in the National League in 1999 and has worked across both major leagues since 2000. Fletcher has appeared in one Major League Baseball All-Star Game and in one World Baseball Classic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Rackley</span> American baseball umpire (born 1981)

David Ross Rackley is an American Major League Baseball umpire. He made his Major League umpiring debut on August 13, 2010. He wears uniform number 86.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pat Hoberg</span> American baseball umpire (born 1986)

Patrick Hoberg is an American Major League Baseball (MLB) umpire. In the 2022 World Series he called the first ever “perfect game” by an umpire by not getting a single ball or strike call incorrect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramon De Jesus</span> Dominican baseball umpire (born 1983)


Ramon Silvestre De Jesus Ferrer is a Dominican professional baseball umpire. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut on April 22, 2016, thus becoming the first MLB umpire from the Dominican Republic. De Jesus wears number 18, which was most previously worn by former umpire Marcus Pattillo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben May (umpire)</span> American baseball umpire (born 1982)

Benjamin Joseph May is an umpire in Major League Baseball (MLB). He has worked in MLB since 2014, and wears number 97 on his uniform.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Libka</span> American baseball umpire (born 1987)

John Libka is a Major League Baseball umpire.

Ronel De Jesus Blanco is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He signed with the Astros as an international free agent in 2016, and made his MLB debut in 2022. He threw a no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays in 2024.

Ryan Additon is an American umpire in Major League Baseball. After graduating from Lynn University, he pitched one season for the Kalamazoo Kings of the Frontier League.

Junior Taylor Valentine is an American professional baseball umpire. He has been an umpire in Major League Baseball since 2020, and was promoted to the full-time umpiring staff in 2023. Valentine wears uniform number 25.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "MLB Umpire Bios". mlb.com. MLB Advanced Media, LP. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Four Former Coastal Plain League Umpires Make Their Major League Debut". costalplain.com. Coastal Plain League. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  3. 1 2 "MLB Debut of Umpire Erich Bacchus". closecallsports.com. Close Call Sports & Umpire Ejection Fantasy League. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Umpires, official scorers & coaches announced for 2017 All-Star Game". mlb.com. MLB Advanced Media, LP. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  5. ↑ "2019 Triple-A Postseason Rosters - PCL & IL". closecallsports.com. Close Call Sports & Umpire Ejection Fantasy League. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  6. ↑ "MLB Debut of Umpire Erich Bacchus". closecallsports.com. Close Call Sports & Umpire Ejection Fantasy League. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  7. ↑ @UmpScorecards (September 22, 2023). "Umpire: Erich Bacchus - Final: Giants 2, Dodgers 7" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. ↑ Bengel, Chris (October 31, 2022). "World Series 2022: Umpire Pat Hoberg called a 'perfect game' behind the plate in Game 2". cbssports.com. CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  9. ↑ McCoy, Creswell. ""It was the stickiest stuff I've felt on a glove" - Umpire Erich Bacchus opens up on Ronel Blanco's ejection for using foreign substance". sportskeeda.com. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
  10. ↑ Capurso, Tim (June 7, 2024). "Padres Announcer Destroys Ump Over Awful Call on Game-Ending Strikeout". si.com. ABG-SI, LLC. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  11. ↑ Woronoff, Brent (January 23, 2023). "Play ball: Wendelstedt Umpire School safe at home in Ormond Beach". observerlocalnews.com. Observer Media Group Inc. Retrieved May 19, 2023.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.