What happened: C.B. Bucknor has accepted MLB’s buyout offer and will retire after the 2026 season. The 63-year-old has not worked since an April 1 game between the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays, when a foul ball struck his mask.
Why it matters: Bucknor began umpiring in 1996 and became MLB’s longest-tenured active umpire after Phil Cuzzi retired in February. His departure is part of a broader turnover, with seven umpires accepting buyouts.
By the numbers: Bucknor’s career spans 30 years. Six of his ball-strike calls were overturned by the ABS challenge system during a March 28 Boston Red Sox-Cincinnati Reds game.
What to watch: Watch whether Bucknor returns before the season ends and how MLB fills the vacancies created by seven retirements.