Laz Díaz to retire from MLB after 31-year career

Veteran Major League Baseball umpire Laz Díaz is retiring after a 31-year career. His final regular-season game is scheduled for Sunday, September 27.

Díaz expressed dissatisfaction with the current state of the sport, citing increased scrutiny and a shift toward a more technical, “black and white” environment. He noted that modern changes have restricted the ability of umpires to “manage the game” and described the current atmosphere for officials as highly negative.

His comments drew significant backlash from fans on social media. Critics argued that the increased precision provided by technology, such as Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) systems, is a necessary improvement rather than a loss of power, and some questioned his performance in recent games.