MLB Umpire Promotions: Tom Hanahan and Brian Walsh Join Permanent Staff

Tom Hanahan and Brian Walsh were promoted to the major league umpire staff on Friday to replace retiring veterans Mark Carlson and Phil Cuzzi.

NEW YORK — Major League Baseball confirmed the promotion of Tom Hanahan and Brian Walsh to the full-time major league umpiring staff on Friday. Hanahan, 35, enters the permanent ranks having already officiated 329 games at the big-league level as a call-up. Walsh, 41, arrives with a resume of 339 major league games worked. These two vacancies were created by the simultaneous retirements of veteran officials Mark Carlson and Phil Cuzzi. Both newly minted full-time umpires initially debuted in the majors during the 2023 campaign before securing these permanent spots for the upcoming 2025 season.

Mark Carlson, 56, concludes a professional tenure that began with his first major league assignment in 1999. Over his career, he earned three World Series selections, appearing in the Fall Classic in 2015, 2020, and 2024. Carlson held the position of crew chief since 2021 and will now transition into the role of umpire supervisor for the league. One of his most notable regular-season achievements occurred on May 2, 2012, when he served as the home plate umpire for Jered Weaver’s no-hitter with the Los Angeles Angels. His departure opens a leadership void that will be filled by Jordan Baker, who has been elevated to the rank of crew chief. Baker notably worked behind the plate during Game 7 of the 2023 World Series.

Phil Cuzzi, 70, also steps away from the field after a career that saw him debut in the majors in 1991. Cuzzi’s postseason highlights include working the 2017 World Series. He was the man behind the mask for two historic no-hitters: Bud Smith’s performance for the St. Louis Cardinals on September 3, 2001, and Cole Hamels’ gem for the Philadelphia Phillies on July 25, 2015. His retirement marks the end of one of the longest active tenures in professional baseball officiating. The exit of both Cuzzi and Carlson represents a loss of over 50 years of combined major league experience from the active roster.

Jen Pawol, 49, will return to major league spring training for the third consecutive year in 2025. Although she did not receive one of the two full-time promotions on Friday, Pawol made history on August 9 of last year by becoming the first woman to umpire a regular-season major league game. She officiated a total of five big-league contests during the previous season. Her 2024 spring training assignment was the first time a woman had worked major league exhibition games since Ria Cortesio in 2007. Pawol has been a professional umpire since 2016 and has been assigned to the Triple-A level since 2023, maintaining her position in the immediate pipeline for future full-time openings.

The promotion of Hanahan and Walsh follows a rigorous evaluation of Triple-A call-up umpires who fill in for full-time staff during vacations or injuries. Hanahan’s 329-game experience and Walsh’s 339-game total provided the statistical foundation for their elevation. This transition ensures that the total number of full-time major league umpires remains at 76. The league utilizes these promotions to reward consistency and accuracy demonstrated over several years of Triple-A and temporary major league service. Every official entering the full-time staff must navigate this specific developmental ladder before a permanent contract is offered.

Jordan Baker’s ascent to crew chief reflects a shift in the hierarchy of the 19 four-man crews that operate across the American and National Leagues. Baker’s experience in high-pressure situations, such as the deciding game of the 2023 World Series, served as a primary factor in his selection to lead a crew. Crew chiefs are responsible for on-field rulings, managing replay reviews, and coordinating with the league office during game-day operations. The reorganization of these crews is a standard procedure following the retirement of senior officials like Carlson. This administrative reshuffling ensures that veteran leadership is distributed evenly across the various umpiring units.

The 2025 spring training schedule will serve as the next evaluation period for umpires like Pawol and other Triple-A prospects. These exhibition games allow the league to assess the performance of non-roster officials in a major league environment. Pawol’s inclusion for a third straight year underscores her status as a top-tier candidate for future vacancies. The path to the majors for umpires is notoriously narrow, with openings only occurring when a current staff member retires or resigns. By maintaining her Triple-A status and spring training invitations, Pawol remains eligible for the same call-up opportunities that Hanahan and Walsh utilized to secure their new roles.

Statistical data from the previous season shows that the league continues to prioritize officials who have logged significant innings at the highest level of the minor leagues. The average age of the new promotees, 38, aligns with the league's trend of elevating experienced mid-career officials to replace retiring veterans in their 50s and 70s. This cycle of turnover is essential for maintaining the physical standards required for the modern game, which includes increased mobility requirements due to the pitch clock and other recent rule changes. The integration of Hanahan and Walsh into the permanent rotation will be finalized before the first pitch of the 2025 regular season.