Remember next time an umpire blows a crucial call that they make a decent living to be the guardrails for the game.
—
The 2025 World Series is underway between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays. Game 1 took place on Friday, with the Blue Jays securing a commanding 11-4 victory. Game 2 is scheduled for Saturday night. Leading the World Series umpiring crew as crew chief is Mark Wegner, who is serving in this role for the first time in the Fall Classic.
### How Much Do World Series Umpires Make?
According to Front Office Sports, umpires selected to work the World Series receive a $20,000 bonus in addition to expenses. This is an increase from the playoff bonus, which is $17,500 plus expenses. These bonuses are flat fees, meaning umpires receive the same total amount regardless of how many games the series lasts.
MLB umpires earn between $150,000 and $450,000 annually, with the average salary hovering around $300,000. Being an MLB umpire is a full-time commitment due to the demanding year-round schedule and extensive responsibilities. Although the regular season lasts roughly six months, the remainder of the year is spent on off-season training, performance evaluations, and preparation for the upcoming season. The long hours during the season combined with ongoing year-round duties make it challenging for umpires to maintain another job.
Front Office Sports lists some of the highest-paid umpires in MLB, including:
– Jerry Layne (35 years): $450,000
– Larry Vanover (31 years): $450,000
– Brian O’Nora (27 years): $450,000
– Bill Miller (25 years): $450,000
– Ron Kulpa (25 years): $450,000
### Who Are the World Series Umpire Crew?
The World Series umpiring crew features Jordan Baker, Adam Hamari, Adrian Johnson, Will Little, Alan Porter, and John Tumpane alongside crew chief Mark Wegner. Porter is making his third World Series appearance, while Baker is working his second. Hamari, Johnson, Little, and Tumpane are all officiating in the World Series for the first time.
With seven umpires in the rotation, a different umpire will be behind home plate for each potential game in this best-of-seven series, starting with Will Little in Game 1. One umpire sits out each game. In Game 2, when Wegner is off the field, Alan Porter will serve as crew chief.
MLB selects World Series umpires primarily based on merit, prioritizing those with top performance ratings, consistent officiating, and proven experience in high-pressure situations.
### Technology Results in Less Human Error from Umpires
The necessity of on-field umpires has long been debated with the advancements in technology that allow cameras to capture and determine the correct call on the diamond.
Since 2008, MLB has employed a video replay challenge system for out-safe calls. This system has been crucial in rectifying numerous questionable calls after decades of debate.
Starting next season, MLB will introduce an automated ball-strike (ABS) challenge system for the first time in the league. MLB experimented with this technology during Spring Training and in the minor leagues. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred expressed confidence in the new system, stating it “had staying power and created momentum for the game.”
“We used the same process with ABS that started with listening to fans, conducting extensive testing at the Minor League level, and trying at every step to make the game better,” Manfred said. “Throughout this process, we have worked on deploying the system in a way that’s acceptable to players. The strong preference from players for the Challenge format over using the technology to call every pitch was a key factor in determining the system we are announcing today.”
Seen as a balance between “robot umps” that could call every pitch perfectly and the traditional human error of on-field umpires, the ABS Challenge System allows teams to contest critical missed calls. Each MLB manager receives two challenges per game and retains them if the challenge is successful.
—
As the 2025 World Series unfolds, the blend of seasoned umpires and cutting-edge technology aims to keep the game fair while maintaining its unique human element.
https://heavy.com/sports/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/world-series-umpires-salary-bonus/