Umpires Hanahan, Walsh promoted to Major League staff
Major League Baseball announced today that two new umpires have been promoted to the full-time Major League staff. The newest members of the full-time staff are Tom Hanahan and Brian Walsh:
- Tom Hanahan has worked 329 Major League games as a call-up umpire since the 2023 season. The Ohio resident began his Minor League umpiring career in 2015.
- Brian Walsh has officiated 339 Major League games as a call-up umpire since the 2023 season. The California resident began his Minor League umpiring career in 2015.
Longtime Major League Umpires Mark Carlson and Phil Cuzzi have concluded their on-field careers:
- Mark Carlson has been named to MLB’s group of Umpire Supervisors, a capacity in which he will help train and evaluate Major League and Minor League Umpires. Carlson was a Major League Umpire for 26.5 seasons, including as a crew chief since 2021. The product of the United States Marines Corps worked three World Series in his career (2015, 2020 and 2024), including as the crew chief in the 2024 Fall Classic between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees. The Illinois native made his Major League debut in a 1999 Cubs-White Sox Interleague game. Carlson also worked MLB’s first games ever in Australia in 2014. He was a part of the 2023 World Baseball Classic and was behind the plate for Jered Weaver’s 2012 no-hitter.
- Phil Cuzzi was a Major League Umpire for 27 years. Phil worked the 2017 World Series, three League Championship Series, the 2008 All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium, and the 2019 Midsummer Classic in Cleveland. Phil called balls and strikes in the no-hitters by St. Louis Cardinals left-hander Bud Smith in 2001 at San Diego and by Philadelphia Phillies southpaw Cole Hamels in 2015 at Wrigley Field. In 2003, the New Jersey native launched the Robert Luongo ALS Fund, which benefits ALS patient care and research.
Umpire Jordan Baker, who has 13.5 years of Major League experience, has been promoted to crew chief, filling Carlson’s vacancy in that role. Baker was the home plate umpire in Game Seven of the 2025 World Series in Toronto.
In addition, 29 umpires have been selected to work 2026 Major League Spring Training: