RACINE, WI — Viewers who tune into the Major League Baseball All-Star Game next month may see a familiar face on a huge stage: Racine native Ben May.
May is a 2000 graduate of St. Catherine’s High School and has been a full-time MLB umpire since 2022. He was named Tuesday to work his first All-Star Game.
Ben May will be on the left-field line
May, 42, will be on the left-field line for the 94th annual midsummer classic between the American and National leagues, set for Globe Life Field in Texas on July 16.
The umpire crew will be led by James Hoye, a 16-year Major League umpire, who will work his second All-Star Game. Hoye will work behind the plate. The rest of the crew includes Bruce Dreckman (first base), John Tumpane (second base), Nic Lentz (third base) and Nesto Ceja (right field).
Ceja, Lentz and Tumpane also are working their first All-Star Game.
For May, who graduated from Marquette University in 2005, the selection represents another step in his progression since he joined MLB in 2014. He worked his first postseason in the National League Wild Card series in 2022, and last year, worked in the National League Divisional series.
When May made his MLB debut, he worked both games of a doubleheader between the Toronto Blue Jays and Minnesota Twins. In his first three seasons, May worked a total of 187 games.
Ben May in top 10 of home plate umpires
In a 2015 study of umpires and their accuracies completed by the Denver Post, May had the highest percentage of challenged calls overturned, but by the 2018 season, he was found to be a top-10 performing home plate umpire in terms of accuracy in calling balls and strikes.
The 2018 study was performed at Boston University, which analyzed more than 350,000 pitches. Two years ago, May ranked in the 97th percentile for consistency and 70th for accuracy.
Earlier this spring, May was credited with just one missed call behind the plate in a game between the Los Angeles Angels and the Tampa Bay Rays. He called 116 of the 117 pitches he saw that night correctly.
After the All-Star break, May will return to his regular crew as the 2024 season resumes. May is assigned with Crew Chief Dan Iassogna, C.B. Bucknor and Adam Beck.
May also is an alum of the Wisconsin Umpires Association and a training staff member.
Racine County Eye will update this article as details become available.
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