Erich Bacchus

Erich Bacchus
Bacchus (left) talks with Connor Overton during a 2022 International League game
Born: (1990-11-02) November 2, 1990 (age 34)
Germantown, Maryland
MLB debut
August 7, 2020
Crew Information
Umpiring crewH (8)
Crew members
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]

Career

Bacchus graduated from the Wendelstedt Umpire 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 Umpire School since 2016.[11]

Personal life

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

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

References

  1. ^ a b c "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. ^ a b "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.