Longtime MLB umpire Angel Hernandez missed much of this season after dealing with a medical matter. But since his return in late July, he’s somehow gotten worse behind the plate.
Sunday’s game was no exception.
Hernandez was working home plate for the final game of the Braves’ series with the Giants, and it quickly became apparent to both pitching staffs that Hernandez was calling any pitch somewhat near the outside corner as a strike. It led to some ridiculous missed calls on the afternoon, but you have to appreciate how Braves play-by-play announcer Brandon Gaudin called the expanded strike zone in the moment.
"As Fried fires a strike near the outside corner…" đ¤Łđ
Ăngel HernĂĄndez special. pic.twitter.com/klrqNU2qDr
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 20, 2023
“As Fried fires a strike near the outside corner,” he said.
That was how Hernandez’s day pretty much went as he was consistently calling that outside pitch a strike.
Umpire: Angel Hernandez
Final: Giants 4, Braves 3#SFGiants // #ForTheA#SFvsATL // #ATLvsSFMore stats for this game đhttps://t.co/c2RI5HncO7 pic.twitter.com/0GpW2vLUa4
— Umpire Scorecards (@UmpScorecards) August 21, 2023
And honestly, it seemed much worse than the scorecard saw it.
stopped counting how many pitches ĂĄngel hernĂĄndez missed today but it was an awful lot pic.twitter.com/xRELHwcas6
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) August 20, 2023
MLB fans also had thoughts on Hernandez’s performance behind the plate.