Thursday, May 15, 2014

Major League Umpiring Debut: Chad Whitson (62)

Umpire Chad Whitson made his MLB debut during the Padres-Reds doubleheader in Cincinnati on May 15. Whitson joined Crew Chief Larry Vanover's crew, serving as the first base umpire alongside 3B Umpire Angel Hernandez, 2B Umpire Vanover and home plate umpire Adrian Johnson during Game 1 and as the third base umpire alongside 2B Umpire Hernandez, 1B Umpire Vanover and HP Umpire Toby Basner for the nightcap.

Whitson also worked at MLBAM's Replay Command Center in Chelsea Marketplace, New York, his debut as a Major League Umpire (albeit off-field) occurring on April 12, 2014.

Whitson is on the International League umpire roster for the 2014 season, which is his 4th season in the IL and AAA. Whitson graduated from the Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School as "Outstanding Student Runner Up" and began his Minor League career in the 2005 Appalachian League, after which he promoted to the South Atlantic, California, Arizona Instructional and Eastern Leagues before his current stop in the IL, a nearly nine-year journey to this point. He worked the 2011 and 2012 Arizona Fall Leagues.

Whitson resides in Dublin, Ohio and wears the sleeve uniform number 62 at the Major League level. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Whitson, who makes his MLB debut at the age of 32, will turn 33 in December. His father is a 40-year local umpire who also has officiated football and basketball.

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