Ángel Hernández’s first week back in Major League Baseball play could be going better.
Earlier this season, MLB fans noticed that Hernández — likely the most unpopular umpire in baseball for his frequent horrible calls — hadn’t been working games. Major League Umpires director Randy Marsh told For The Win that Hernández’s absence was due to a “medical matter” and it was only recently that the umpire had been spotted working minor league games.
On Monday, Hernández was back on the field at the MLB level, this time holding court as the second base umpire for the evening’s Washington Nationals and Milwaukee Brewers contest. During the fifth inning, Nationals outfielder Alex Call made an attempt to steal second but was tagged by Brewers shortstop Willy Adames.
Inexplicably, Hernández made the call that Call was safe, but replay showed that Adames clearly tagged his man before he got anywhere close to the base.
Welcome back, Ángel Hernández! 😂 pic.twitter.com/iIhEiq7Sj2
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 1, 2023
Thankfully, the Brewers challenged the play and it was overturned, but what a mess. Definitely not the way Hernández wanted to kick off his return to MLB play, that’s for sure.
MLB fans, however, ripped Hernández for his terrible call on what should have been an easy out made right then and there.
Angel Hernandez back in mid-season form baby pic.twitter.com/AtfYk30Xfe
— Mack Huff (@HackMuff) August 1, 2023
Angel Hernandez is definitely back 😭pic.twitter.com/iEU4TngSJ0
— 573 Baseball (@573Baseball) August 1, 2023
I, for one, am SHOCKED that Angel Hernandez blew that call.
— The Brewer Nation (@BrewerNation) August 1, 2023
Death, Taxes, and Ángel Hernández. Three things that are inevitable.
Welcome back, Ángel. Already in midseason form. https://t.co/1PJzytbpkD
— Tommy Garrett (@TommygarrettNFL) August 1, 2023
Dear Lord Angel… lol https://t.co/STxXnddFkC
— JOHN JOHNSON II (@TheJJohnsonTV) August 1, 2023
Took the man no time https://t.co/RjuzlT3cDw
— J (@NatsRealist) August 1, 2023
It's like he never left 😂 https://t.co/k50yJytQeB
— Reviewing the Brew (@ReviewngTheBrew) August 1, 2023
I am truly cackling https://t.co/A07IZDD7fj
— sleepy crying hayls (@haybeebs) August 1, 2023
All challenges of Angel Hernandez calls should automatically be overturned without consulting replay https://t.co/uo9tn86qqS
— Joe Orrico (@JoeOrrico99) August 1, 2023
