Why is everyone talking about Laz Diaz's strike call from Rays vs Rangers
Why is everyone talking about Laz Diaz's strike call from Rays vs Rangers (Image via Getty)
A Major League Baseball game between the Texas Rangers and the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday, June 4, 2025, turned into a major talking point—not for a great play, but for a shocking mistake by veteran umpire Laz Diaz.
The game, held at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, saw Diaz make a strike call that fans and experts are calling the worst in modern baseball history.
Laz Diaz makes worst strike call in MLB history during Rays vs Rangers game
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Jake Mangum was at bat facing Texas Rangers pitcher David Robertson. With a full count and two outs, the pitch thrown was far outside the strike zone—by nearly 7 inches. However, Laz Diaz called it a third strike, ending the at-bat.
According to Umpire Auditor, a platform that tracks missed calls by umpires, the pitch was exactly 6.83 inches outside the official strike zone. This now holds the record for the worst strike call ever recorded by the platform since it started tracking data in 2014.
The controversial moment quickly spread across social media and baseball websites. Many compared Laz Diaz to former umpire Ángel Hernández, who was often criticized for similar mistakes before retiring earlier this year.
The Rays won the game 5-1, but the missed call became the bigger story of the night.
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Fans react to Laz Diaz's strike call and officials face pressure
The reaction from players, fans, and sports commentators was immediate. Several well-known baseball analysts called out the call live during post-game coverage. One MLB broadcaster on Bally Sports said, 'That was not just a bad call—it was embarrassing.'
After the game, Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash did not directly criticize the umpire but said, 'We've got to trust that calls are being made with fairness.
Everyone saw that pitch.' Jake Mangum, who was the batter at the moment, kept his comments short. 'I'll let the replay speak for itself,' he said during a locker room interview.
The MLB has not yet commented on the situation. However, many fans are now calling for Laz Diaz to be removed from future games, especially after setting such a negative record. The incident has started fresh conversations about using automated strike zones or robot umpires in the future.
As of now, no formal disciplinary action has been announced.
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