Major League Baseball (MLB) announced Friday that five referees have been promoted to join the full-time crew.
The new members are Ryan Addition, Sean Barber, John Libka, Ben May and Roberto Ortiz, who becomes the first referee born in Puerto Rico to be part of the MLB staff.
Ortiz, 37, has been a minor league umpire since 2009. He has 411 games of MLB umpiring experience since 2016 and worked at Triple-A East in 2021.
MLB announces the “Full Time” hiring of Puerto Rican Roberto Ortiz, who thus becomes the first referee born in Puerto Rico to occupy the position.
#MLBPuertoRico pic.twitter.com/PgdBW25FUA
– MLB Puerto Rico (@MLBPuertoRico) February 4, 2022
Additon, 36, has been a minor league umpire since 2010. He has 381 games of MLB-level experience as a substitute umpire since 2017 and was behind the plate for Corey Kluber’s no-hitter last season, back then of the New York Yankees. He worked at Triple-A East in 2021.
Barber, 36, has been a minor league umpire since 2006. Sean has 690 MLB games since 2014 and worked at Triple-A East in 2021.
To young people:
Message from Roberto Ortiz, the first referee born in Puerto Rico to be appointed to work full time in @The majors pic.twitter.com/aeg9GqJ9rQ
– Héctor Titito Rosa 🇵🇷 (@TititoRosa) February 4, 2022
Libka, 34, has been a minor league umpire since 2010. John has 371 games of MLB umpiring experience since 2017 and worked at Triple-A West in 2021.
May, 40, has been a minor league umpire since 2007. Ben has 650 games of MLB umpiring experience since 2014 and worked at Triple-A West in 2021.
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Roberto Ortiz makes history by being the first full-time Puerto Rican referee in MLB