Roberto Ortiz, 37, became the first Puerto Rican-born umpire ever to join the Major League Baseball (MLB) full-time umpiring staff.
"I am honoured and blessed to have the privilege of becoming the first Puerto Rican umpire to be hired by MLB," Ortíz said. "It fills me with pride to be able to represent my family and my island of Puerto Rico in what I consider the best league in the world."
He has been a Minor League Baseball (MiLB) umpire since 2009 and has worked 411 MLB games as a call-up umpire since 2016. He worked at the Triple-A level in 2021.
Four more umpires have been promoted to the MLB full-time status: Ryan Additon, Sean Barber, both 36, John Libka, 34, and Ben May, 40.
The newest members of MLB umpiring staff replace veterans Fieldin Culbreth, Kerwin Danley, Gerry Davis, Brian Gorman, and legendary Joe West, who holds an all-time record of 5,460 MLB games. They announced their retirement.
