Sean Barber
Umpire
Born: (1985-05-22) May 22, 1985
Lakeland, Florida, U.S.
MLB debut
March 30, 2014
Crew Information
Umpiring crew18
Crew members
Career highlights and awards
Special assignments

Sean Michael Barber (born May 22, 1985) is an American professional baseball umpire in Major League Baseball (MLB). He began working in MLB as a call-up umpire in 2014 and was hired as a full-time umpire before the 2022 season.

Career

Barber graduated from Lake Gibson High School in Lakeland, Florida, in 2004. He began working as an umpire at the age of 15 in Little League Baseball in North Lakeland and also called high school baseball games.[1][2]

Barber enrolled at Hillsborough Community College. While he was working at a pet store, Barber was bitten by an eel through the bone of his right hand near his thumb, requiring him to get 27 stitches three weeks before the start of his sophomore year.[2] Unable to write, Barber turned his attention to umpiring, and enrolled at the Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School.[2] He graduated from the school in the top 25 of his class. Barber attended an umpiring camp hosted by Major League Baseball (MLB),[1] and was hired as an umpire in Minor League Baseball in 2006,[3] making his professional baseball debut in the Appalachian League.[2] He umpired in the 2012 Arizona Fall League (AFL) Rising Stars Game[4] and the 2013 World Baseball Classic qualification.[5] He returned to umpire in the AFL in 2013 and one of his calls was the first to be tested for expanded instant replay.[6]

Barber became a call-up umpire for MLB in 2014. After he umpired in 690 MLB games through the 2021 season, MLB hired Barber as a full-time umpire before the 2022 season.[7]

Personal life

Barber's father, Glenn Chancey, has worked as an umpire and umpiring instructor in the North Lakeland Little League since 1991.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Lake Gibson's Sean Barber is Umpiring in the Majors 10 Years After H.S". The Ledger. April 27, 2014. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Will Polk's Gipson, Barber Achieve Goal of Wearing Mask of MLB Umpire?". The Ledger. July 16, 2006. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Five umpires promoted to Major League staff". MLB.com. February 4, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Roster: Arizona Fall League Rising Stars Game". Close Call Sports. November 3, 2012. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Roster: 2013 World Baseball Classic Umpires". Close Call Sports. March 8, 2013. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Fast and flawless: Expanded replay trial begins". MLB.com. November 5, 2013. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Roberto Ortíz named first full-time umpire from Puerto Rico". MLB.com. February 4, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  • Career statistics and player information from Retrosheet
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