Ranking the strike-three calls of every World Series umpire

TORONTO – Generally speaking, the less conversation there is about umpires, the better – especially at a pinnacle event like the World Series. After all, no one wants them to become a storyline because a controversial call impacts a game when the stakes are this high.

Truth be told, though, umpires take a remarkably difficult task – making high-speed calls in real-time, behind the plate or on the bases – and do it exceptionally well, even if this is the final Fall Classic without the ABS challenge system, which begins next season.

For many players, umpires are an integral part of the game, and this best-of-seven featuring the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers is, in a sense, the umpires’ final chance to shine. 

“The umpires are actually really good,” Max Scherzer said recently as part of a wider conversation about the ABS system. “I know it's the favourite thing for everybody to do, complain about the umpires, but they're actually really good. The top 90 per cent are really good at calling balls and strikes.”

Many do it with a style all their own, especially calling balls and strikes, so with that in mind, below is a scouting report on each of the seven on-field umpires assigned to the 2025 World Series. Also included are the insights of co-writer Caleb Joseph, who caught seven years and two post-season series at the MLB level, on the distinctive strike three calls he studied up close for years, along with a ‘fun score’ for each. 

Without further ado, here’s what to expect from the seven umpires in action, starting with the home plate ump for Game 1:

Will Little

Home plate: Game 1
Experience: 4 WC, 6 DS, 1 LCS
Notable context: Played college baseball for Milligan College before becoming an umpire.
Finishing Move: If you aren't paying close attention, you might miss it. You won't hear an audible, but the mini “push/pull” move with a small step back is a clean and classic call.
Caleb’s Fun Score: 4/5

Adrian Johnson

Home plate: Game 2
Experience: 3 WC, 6 DS, 1 LCS
Notable context: Worked this year’s Dodgers-Phillies NLDS alongside Wegner.
Finishing Move: Opposite of Little, you'll hear the “Hike Hee” deep from Johnson’s gut. It's authoritative, as is his forceful pull with the right hand and tiny left leg lift.
Caleb’s Fun Score: 4.75/5

Mark Wegner (crew chief)

Home plate: Game 3
Experience: 5 WC, 11 DS, 5 LCS, 2 WS
Notable context: Worked this year’s Dodgers-Phillies NLDS alongside Johnson. Also worked the World Series in 2013 and 2017, including a home plate assignment for Houston's Game 7 win over the Dodgers in 2017. His MLB bio reports that he “taught himself how to throw left-handed in high school after severely injuring his right arm in his freshman year.”
Finishing Move: The Crew Chief with a sneaky 26 years of service is as smooth as it gets. A slow side pull on looking threes might be overshadowed by his deliberate finger points on strikes one and two. 
Caleb’s Fun Score: 4.25/5

John Tumpane

Home plate: Game 4
Experience: 2 WC, 5 DS, 1 LCS
Notable context: Not only does Tumpane have 12 years of service as an umpire, he helped save a woman's life in 2017 before umpiring that night's Pirates-Rays game.
Finishing Move: Nicknamed “The Ripper” for his stabbing motion on called threes, Tumpane is as animated as it gets. Our favourite is the swinging strike three, where he gets on the tippy toes as the right hand reaches to the sky to “pull the string” from top to bottom. 
Caleb’s Fun Score: 5/5

Alan Porter

Home plate: Game 5
Experience: 5 WC, 7 DS, 4 LCS, 2 WS
Notable context: Worked home plate for the 15-inning Tigers-Mariners ALDS game in Seattle. Worked the World Series in 2019 and 2022.
Finishing Move: Arguably the best ball/strike umpire in the league, his delayed slow-fighter jab on called threes is as calm and collected as his demeanour in pressure situations.
Caleb’s Fun Score: 4/5

Adam Hamari

Home plate: Game 6
Experience: 4 WC, 3 DS, 2 LCS
Notable context: Worked this year’s Blue Jays-Yankees ALDS alongside Baker.
Finishing Move: Hamari's footwork will be on display during swinging strike threes. The right hand asks a question before pulling down as the left leg slides over with a toe drag. Poetry in motion.
Caleb’s Fun Score: 4.75/5

Jordan Baker

Home plate: Game 7
Experience: 5 WC, 3 DS, 3 LCS, 1 WS
Notable context: Worked this year’s Blue Jays-Yankees ALDS alongside Hamari and walked the Rogers Centre perimeter in a cowboy hat during the crew’s pre-series inspection. Worked the 2022 World Series.
Finishing Move: The mild-mannered, 6-7 Oklahoman will show his wingspan on called strikes one and two with a long-armed point, as well as a big “lawn mower pull” on looking threes for left-handed batters.

Caleb’s Fun Score: 4.25/5