NEW YORK – Umpire Angel Hernández, who has sued Major League Baseball over a lack of top assignments, will serve as an interim crew chief this season after a dozen umps decided to sit out amid the coronavirus pandemic.Eight crew chiefs and four other umpires have opted out.
The virus-delayed season is scheduled to begin Thursday night when the New York Yankees visit Washington and the Los Angeles Dodgers host San Francisco.The crew chiefs opting out are: Gerry Davis, Jerry Layne, Mike Winters, Brian Gorman, Tom Hallion, Kerwin Danley, Fieldin Culbreth and Sam Holbrook.
Brian O’Nora, Phil Cuzzi, Bruce Dreckman and Scott Barry also will miss this year.Hernández, a 27-year umpire vet, will be one of the interim chiefs.