MLB Hires Chad Whitson to Full-Time Umpire Staff

Major League Baseball hired Chad Whitson to the full-time MLB umpire staff to replace the retired Mike DiMuro. Whitson's 391 games of big league experience as a call-up/fill-in at the time of promotion feature strong showings in 2017 (124 games) and 2018 (141 games), as well as the first half of 2019 (59 games).

Chad Whitson (Sleeve #62) Hired: A 2005 graduate of the Harry Wendelsedt Umpire School as its "Outstanding Student Runner-Up," Whitson officiated the Appalachian, South Atlantic, California, Arizona Instructional, Eastern, Arizona Fall, and International Leagues.

Whitson made his MLB debut on May 15, 2014 in Cincinnati and is the first umpire hired to the full-time staff since Stu Scheurwater during the 2017-2018 offseason.
Related Post: Major League Umpiring Debut: Chad Whitson (62) (5/15/14).
Related Post: Source - Stu Scheurwater Hired to Full-Time MLB Staff (12/23/17).

The 37-year-old resident of Dublin, Ohio has accumulated three career MLB ejections as of his July 2019 promotion, including two ejections of catcher Matt Wieters and his first non-Wieters ejection (of Miguel Cabrera) in May 2019. He replaces retiree Mike DiMuro, whose 2019 crew was chiefed by Bill Miller. Whitson is presently paired with Chief Larry Vanover's crew.
Related Post: Mike DiMuro Retires After 20 Years (7/18/19).

Navas receives the Dale Ford Award in 2015.

Jose Navas, Matt Winter Promoted: With the vacancy created by Whitson's MLB hiring, Venezuela media reports that Jose Navas has been promoted to Triple-A from the Double-A Southern League, as has SL umpire Matt Winter.

Navas recently chiefed the MiLB All-Star Futures Game at 2019 MLB All-Star Weekend in Cleveland, and received the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League's Gualberto Acosta Award (Umpire of the Year) in January 2017. Navas Corzo also received the inaugural Dale Ford award, which recognizes the top umpire in MiLB's Appalachian League, in 2015.

Winter, who officiated the 2018 Southern League All-Star Game, served as a crew chief in the Southern League until his Triple-A promotion.