MiLB Umpires Promoted to Triple-A for 2020

Hoping to become MLB's first-ever umpire from Japan, Takahito Matsuda is one of 10 Minor League umpires promoted from Double-A to Triple-A ahead of baseball's 2020 season.

Promotion to Triple-A's Pacific Coast and International Leagues is a required step on the road to the show and provides umpires with the opportunity to earn career-enhancing assignments such as the Arizona Fall League and MLB Spring Training, with an eventual goal of joining the major league regular season call-up/fill-in roster.

As reported this month by our friends at Ump-Attire.com, the following 2019 Double-A umpires were promoted to Triple-A for the 2020 season. This roster update accounts for the vacancies created by MLB promotions and possible resignations or releases at the Triple-A level, which will have a cascading effect on all levels of Minor League Baseball.

2020 Triple-A Rookie Umpire List (2019 league in parentheses):
>> Matt Bates (Southern League)
>> Cody Clark (Southern League) [UEFL History]
>> Chris Marco (Eastern League)
>> Takahito 'Taka' Matsuda (Eastern League) [UEFL History]
>> Jacob Metz (Eastern League)
>> Tyler Olsen (Texas League)
>> Justin Robinson (Justin Robinson)
>> Ben Sonntag (Southern League)
>> Derek Thomas (Eastern League)
>> Brian Walsh (Texas League)

MiLB Umpires Clark, Ballou Praised for RV Rescue

When an RV crashed on I-95, MiLB umpires Cody Clark and Brock Ballou sprung into action to assist its occupants, preserving the scene until police, fire, and medical services could arrive.

Cody Clark (L) and Brock Ballou. Photo: MiLB

While driving along the North Carolina portion of the highway enroute to a Carolina Mudcats game in April, an RV just ahead of the A Advanced Carolina League umpiring crew blew a tire before slamming into a guardrail, rupturing its undercarriage and fuel line, and littering the road with debris, all while one of the loose tires had flown free and smashed into the umpires' own windshield.

After coming to a stop, Clark and Ballou ran to the disabled RV and found the door jammed while two off-duty detectives also traveling I-95 helped control traffic.

When the RV's cabin became exposed, one of the items that fell out of the vehicle was a tool box containing a wrench, which Clark used to smash open one of the RV's windows before climbing in and checking on the elderly couple and their three cats within.

H/T: In highway rescue, umps make the right call (MiLB)