Roberto Ortiz became the first Puerto Rican-born umpire to join Major League Baseball’s full-time staff on Friday.
Ortiz joined Ryan Additon, Sean Barber, John Libka and Ben May in being promoted by the league. These five umpires are taking the spots of five umps who retired last season: Fieldin Culbreth, Kerwin Danley, Gerry Davis, Brian Gorman and Joe West.
All five additions have worked as a minor-league umpire since at least 2010. Ortiz, Additon and Barber worked Triple-A East in 2021, while Libka and May served in Triple-A West last year.
Ortiz, 37, has worked 411 major-league games as a call-up umpire since 2016.
Additon, 36, was behind the plate for then New York Yankees hurler Corey Kluber’s no-hitter against the Texas Rangers last May. He has worked 381 major-league games as a call-up umpire since 2017.
Barber, 36, and May, 40, have worked 690 and 650 respective major-league games as call-up umpires since 2014.
Libka, 34, has worked 371 major-league games since 2017.
–Field Level Media