Mark Ripperger, a Major League Baseball umpire, is being lauded for his exceptional performance during Thursday’s matchup between the Kansas City Royals and the Minnesota Twins.
Ripperger worked behind home plate as the Royals mounted a comeback victory in a closely contested game. While Bobby Witt Jr.’s sacrifice fly ultimately secured a 2-1 lead in the seventh inning, conversations following the game largely centered on Ripperger’s officiating.
The umpire achieved what is being described as a “perfect game” – an incredibly rare distinction that has occurred only once previously within the Umpire Scorecards era.
Umpire Scorecards meticulously analyze pitch-tracking data to evaluate umpire accuracy, taking into account not just the call itself but also its impact on the flow of the game. Ripperger’s performance was scrutinized across 136 pitches thrown during Thursday’s contest.
- According to Umpire Scorecards data, he called every single pitch correctly.
Prior to their rally in the seventh inning, the Royals were trailing the Twins by one run. Michael Wacha, Kansas City’s starting pitcher, contributed 5.1 innings of work, allowing two earned runs and striking out four batters.
The Royals secured a 2-1 win over Minnesota before subsequently suffering a 7-0 defeat against the Guardians on Friday.
“It’s an extraordinary accomplishment to achieve a perfect score from Umpire Scorecards,” stated one analyst familiar with the metrics.
Only one other umpire, Pat Hoberg, has previously earned this designation. He achieved it during Game 2 of the 2023 World Series, solidifying Ripperger’s place among an elite few in baseball officiating.
