Ángel Hernández dealt legal setback one day after blown call in Royals-Mariners game
Major League Baseball umpire Ángel Hernández received some bad news Tuesday.
ESPN reported a federal appeals court in Manhattan declined to revive Hernández’s lawsuit that accused Major League Baseball of racial discrimination. A U.S. District Court had dismissed the suit in 2021.
That original suit said MLB “manipulated its internal umpiring metrics to disadvantage minorities, thereby excluding them from becoming crew chiefs.”
Unfortunately for Hernández, there are external umpiring metrics that show the struggles he’s had at his job. For example, Hernández was the lowest rated plate umpire in Saturday’s games, according to Umpire Auditor.
Hernández missed most of the 2023 season after having back surgery, according to Sports Illustrated. He will be back behind the plate Wednesday when the Royals play the Mariners at Kauffman Stadium.
Tuesday’s legal ruling comes one day after Hernández missed a call during the Royals’ bonkers 7-6 victory over Seattle. Royals outfielder Drew Waters was originally called safe on a stolen base attempt, but the Mariners challenged and the call was overturned.
Btm 4th – @Mariners challenge call that Drew Waters is safe at 2B; call overturned, runner is out. Powered by @Zoom. pic.twitter.com/hNwB7HH5lg
— MLB Replays (@MLBReplays) August 15, 2023
While clearly hoping for different outcomes from the review, Royals and Mariners fans were united on one point: their disgust with Hernández.
Here is some of what they were saying about the missed call at second base.
Angel Hernandez is working the Mariners game and (shock!) he blew a call. Replay overturned it. How does he still have a job?
— | @gurrjaroid (Spoutible) (@gurrjaroid) August 15, 2023
You can’t convince me that an Angel Hernandez replay isn’t just an auto-overturn in New York.
— David Lesky (@DBLesky) August 15, 2023
He was totally out of position to make the call
— Ryiin (@rfoto) August 15, 2023
I guarantee you Angel Hernandez made the incorrect call on purpose, because why not
— Steve (@MarinersSteve) August 15, 2023
Angel hernandez special there wow
— MarinersSUR (@MarinersSUR) August 15, 2023
No wonder why the KC player was called safe on the steal at 2nd, Angel Hernandez called it. #SeaUsRise
— Soul Shea (@SoulShea42) August 15, 2023
Angel Hernandez is a walking crime against humanity. Gives organized labor everywhere a bad name. He’s the single reason we need the robots. Cripes.
— Royals Farm Report (@RoyalsFarm) August 15, 2023
No waaaaaaay. An overturned call that was made by angel hernandez? Never. He's such a good umpire/s @mlb @mariners#angelhernandez
— Frankie Cottrell (@Frankie4Chords) August 15, 2023
