​CB Bucknor has long carried a reputation for being one of the most controversial umpires in recent memory, and this season has underscored that perception, especially with the advent of ABS challenges. In Bucknor’s first game behind the plate this year, March 28 in Cincinnati, six calls were overturned in a sequence that drew attention to the challenges facing veteran umpires today. The ABS Challenge outcomes for that game included Narváez (Ball-Confirmed); Anthony 2 (Strike-Overturned to Ball, Strike-Confirmed); De La Cruz, E (Strike-Overturned to Ball); Suárez, E 2 (Strike-Overturned to Ball, Strike-Overturned to Ball); Benson 2 (Strike-Overturned to Ball, Strike-Overturned to Ball). Bucknor’s performance that night is reflected in his Ump Scorecard from the game, which readers and analysts use to gauge the consistency and accuracy of the plate umpire’s zone.
Three days later, Bucknor was involved in another controversial moment at first base when he made an egregious missed call that drew further scrutiny of his in-game decisions. The following day, as the plate umpire in Milwaukee, Bucknor experienced a foul ball striking his mask, an incident that highlighted the physical risks umpires face behind the plate. He did indeed sustain a concussion from that foul ball and has not worked since. There is at least some indication, reported by Bob Nightengale and noted in passing within a broader column, that Bucknor may be among seven umpires who will retire at season’s end through a buyout arrangement with MLB. The report listed Bucknor along with Laz Diaz, Brian O’Nora, Lance Barksdale, Marvin Hudson, Tony Randazzo, and Andy Fletcher as individuals who will exit the umpiring staff after the season.
From a fan and player perspective, Bucknor’s retirement, along with that of several colleagues, could alter the landscape of MLB officiating. The group of seven umpires taking buyouts may open opportunities for a new generation of officials to enter the sport’s top-level rotation. Within that cohort, Laz Diaz is another name whose reputation has been debated, with some observers noting a tendency to miss balls and strikes and, at times, to engage in contentious exchanges with players and managers. In my view, Bucknor and Diaz are not irreplaceable losses, and I wish them well in retirement as they step away from the field.
On a more positive note, the broader news from the same article centers on Jen Pawol, who could become MLB’s first full-time female umpire in 2027. Pawol is already part of the rotation that fills in for regular umpires on vacation and other absences and has gained favorable reports from those who have watched her work, including a Cubs Spring Training appearance at Sloan Park. Although she has not yet worked a game at Wrigley Field, there is optimism that she will at some point this season. Her early career work has drawn praise, and many observers believe she could become a staple in the seven- or eight-person crew of full-time umpires in the coming years.
In recent years, MLB has undertaken meaningful changes to its umpiring corps. Physical conditioning for umpires has improved, and the review systems—the ball/strike technology and challenge mechanisms—have contributed to elevating the quality of calls and the overall officiating standard. The ABS challenge system, in particular, demonstrates that most umpires possess a high degree of accuracy when the strike zone is scrutinized by review technology. Many overturned calls are decided by an increasingly narrow margin—a tiny sliver of a baseball can determine the outcome of a call. Nevertheless, the system remains a net positive, reinforcing the importance of precision in ball-strike judgments and the ongoing advancement of the sport’s officiating discipline.