Whitson appointed to Major League umpiring staff

Major League Baseball announced today that Chad Whitson has been appointed to the full-time Major League Umpiring staff. Whitson fills the spot created by the departure of Mike DiMuro, who steps away with 20 years of Major League service.

Whitson, 37, has been a professional umpire since 2005. The Ohio native has umpired in the Gulf Coast League, the Appalachian League, the South Atlantic League, the California League, the Eastern League, the International League and the Arizona Fall League. Whitson has worked Major League Spring Training since 2012 and has 399 regular season games to his credit as a call-up umpire since his Major League debut on May 15, 2014.

DiMuro, 51, was the home plate umpire for the perfect game by the late Roy Halladay of the Phillies on May 29, 2010 at Miami. The son of longtime American League Umpire Lou DiMuro, they comprise one of only five father-son tandems of Major League Umpires ever. Mike worked three Postseasons and the 2005 All-Star Game at Detroit. Prior to becoming a Major League Umpire, the University of San Diego graduate umpired games in Japan’s Central League in 1997. In 2004, Mike and fellow Major League Umpire Marvin Hudson were co-founders of the charitable organization “Blue For Kids,” which is now a part of UMPS CARE, the official charity of the Major League Umpires. [Umps Care](http://www.umpscare.com) provides support to at-risk and critically ill children and military families.