MLB Debut of Umpire Jose Navas

Jose Navas made his MLB debut Friday with Jeff Nelson's crew in Chicago. Navas becomes the fourth Venezuelan to reach MLB as an umpire, following Manny Gonzalez, Carlos Torres, and Edwin Moscoso, who debuted on Opening Day.

Like Moscoso, Navas formerly officiated in Venezuela's professional winter league.

His Minor League journey began in 2015's Gulf Coast rookie league, after which Navas traveled through the Florida State and Southern Leagues before his 2019 midseason promotion to the Triple-A International League and Arizona Fall League assignment.

Navas was the crew chief for the 2019 MiLB All-Star Futures Game in Cleveland and is a past recipient of the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League's 2017 Gualberto Acosta Award for Umpire of the Year, and the Appalachian League's inaugural Dale Ford Award for top umpire in 2015.

Navas served as HP Umpire during that 2019 Arizona Fall League when Major League Baseball tested its Automated Ball/Strike System during live game play. After the computer called Giants prospect Jacob Heyward out on strikes, Navas warned and ejected Heyward for arguing the call—arguing with a robot umpire's call.
Related Post: Computer Strike Call Prompts Navas' AFL Ejection (10/16/19).

Navas is one of 10 rookie umpires to make his MLB debut during the 2020 regular season.