Erich Bacchus
{{Short description|American baseball umpire (born 1990)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
| number = 12
| name = Erich Bacchus
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1990|11|02|mf=yes}}
| birth_place = Germantown, Maryland
| death_date =
| death_place =
| image = File:Chasers20220412-80.jpg
| width = 275px
| caption = Bacchus (left) talks with Connor Overton during a 2022 International League game
| debutleague = MLB
| debutdate = August 7
| debutyear = 2020
| umpirecrew = F
| crewchief = #63 Laz Díaz
| crew2 = #7 Brian O'Nora
| crew3 = #83 Mike Estabrook
| crew4 = #12 Erich Bacchus
| highlights = 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.{{cite web |title=MLB Umpire Bios |url=https://www.mlb.com/official-information/umpires/bios |website=mlb.com |publisher=MLB Advanced Media, LP. |access-date=4 June 2023}} Bacchus wears uniform number 12.
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{{cite web |title=Four Former Coastal Plain League Umpires Make Their Major League Debut |url=https://coastalplain.com/four-former-coastal-plain-league-umpires-make-their-major-league-debut/ |website=costalplain.com |publisher=Coastal Plain League |access-date=9 February 2024}} as part of an umpire development agreement with Major League Baseball.{{cite web |title=MLB Debut of Umpire Erich Bacchus |url=https://www.closecallsports.com/2020/08/mlb-debut-of-umpire-erich-bacchus.html |website=closecallsports.com |publisher=Close Call Sports & Umpire Ejection Fantasy League |access-date=April 22, 2023}} During that time, he was chosen as an umpire for the 2017 All-Star Futures Game,{{cite web |title=Umpires, official scorers & coaches announced for 2017 All-Star Game |url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/umpires-official-scorers-coaches-announced-for-2017-all-star-game-240776706 |website=mlb.com |publisher=MLB Advanced Media, LP. |access-date=1 December 2023}} and the 2019 International League Championship Series.{{cite web |title=2019 Triple-A Postseason Rosters - PCL & IL |url=https://www.closecallsports.com/2019/09/2019-triple-postseason-rosters-pcl-il.html#google_vignette |website=closecallsports.com |publisher=Close Call Sports & Umpire Ejection Fantasy League |access-date=16 December 2023}}
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.{{cite web |title=MLB Debut of Umpire Erich Bacchus |url=https://www.closecallsports.com/2020/08/mlb-debut-of-umpire-erich-bacchus.html |website=closecallsports.com |publisher=Close Call Sports & Umpire Ejection Fantasy League |access-date=1 December 2023}}
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.{{Cite tweet |user=UmpScorecards |number=1705229169762709783 |title=Umpire: Erich Bacchus - Final: Giants 2, Dodgers 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.{{cite web |last1=Bengel |first1=Chris |title=World Series 2022: Umpire Pat Hoberg called a 'perfect game' behind the plate in Game 2 |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/world-series-2022-umpire-pat-hoberg-called-a-perfect-game-behind-the-plate-in-game-2/ |website=cbssports.com |date=October 31, 2022 |publisher=CBS Interactive Inc. |access-date=23 September 2023}}
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".{{cite web |last1=McCoy |first1=Creswell |title="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 |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/baseball/news-it-stickiest-stuff-i-ve-felt-glove-umpire-erich-bacchus-opens-ronel-blanco-s-ejection-using-foreign-substance |website=sportskeeda.com |access-date=26 May 2024}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Capurso |first1=Tim |title=Padres Announcer Destroys Ump Over Awful Call on Game-Ending Strikeout |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/padres-announcer-destroys-ump-over-awful-call-on-game-ending-strikeout |website=si.com |date=June 7, 2024 |publisher=ABG-SI, LLC. |access-date=15 June 2024}}
Bacchus has served as an instructor at the Wendelstedt Umpire School since 2016.{{cite web |last1=Woronoff |first1=Brent |title=Play ball: Wendelstedt Umpire School safe at home in Ormond Beach |url=https://www.observerlocalnews.com/news/2023/jan/23/play-ball-wendelstedt-umpire-school-safe-at-home-in-ormond-beach/ |website=observerlocalnews.com |date=January 23, 2023 |publisher=Observer Media Group Inc. |access-date=19 May 2023}}
Personal life
An avid runner, Bacchus competed in a half marathon on behalf of UMPS CARE Charities in Holly Springs, NC.
He holds dual citizenship, as a citizen of both the United States and Switzerland.
References
{{reflist}}
External Links
- [https://retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B/Pbacce901.htm Retrosheet]
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Category:Major League Baseball umpires
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