Major League Baseball has fired an umpire as part of an investigation into sports gambling.

Umpire Pat Hoberg was fired after it was revealed he shared betting accounts with a friend who bet on baseball, according to ESPN reporter Jesse Rogers and later confirmed by the league.

While he shared the accounts with a friend, the league says it has not found evidence that Hoberg himself bet on games or “manipulated” any he officiated.

Hoberg became the subject of an investigation in spring 2024 and was sidelined for the entire season as the league investigated.

During that time, he allegedly deleted messages from his phone that were “central to MLB’s investigation.”

In May 2024, MLB handed down undisclosed discipline following the conclusion of its investigation, which Hoberg appealed. It was later confirmed that the disciplinary action included his termination.

On Monday, it was announced that he would not return to Major League Baseball after losing that appeal.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred released a statement that reads in part, “His extremely poor judgment in sharing betting accounts with a professional poker player he had reason to believe bet on baseball and who did, in fact, bet on baseball from the shared accounts, combined with his deletion of messages creates at minimum the appearance of impropriety that warrants imposing the most severe discipline.”

Manfred said game officiants are allowed to place bets on sports other than baseball, but Hoberg’s specific actions did not conform to the “high standards of personal conduct and to maintain the integrity of the game of baseball.”

Hoberg, 38, was named a full-time MLB umpire in 2017. He worked seven postseason series, including his first World Series in 2022. He was also the home plate umpire for the 2021 Field of Dreams game between the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees.

In a statement released via MLB.com, the former umpire said he takes full responsibility for the “errors in judgment” that led to his termination, but insisted he did not place bets on any baseball games or manipulate the outcomes.

“I have never and would never bet on baseball in any way, shape, or form,” Hoberg said. “I have never provided, and would never provide, information to anyone for the purpose of betting on baseball. Upholding the integrity of the game has always been of the utmost importance to me.”

While he will not return to the baseball diamond in the upcoming season, Hoberg will be eligible to apply for reinstatement prior to 2026 Spring Training.