Home plate umpire Mark Ripperger. Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

MLB umpire calls ultra-rare 'perfect game'

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Darryn Albert | Last updated Apr 12, 2025 9:01 AM ET

Mark Ripperger apparently does not miss.

The MLB umpire Ripperger pulled off a very impressive feat on Thursday during the Kansas City Royals-Minnesota Twins game. Ripperger was behind home plate for the contest and managed to call a “perfect game.”

Out of the 136 pitches taken during the game, Ripperger called every single one correctly (per umpire database Umpire Scorecards). He also called all 89 true balls correctly and all 47 true strikes correctly.

With the immaculate outing, Ripperger became just the second MLB umpire in the Umpire Scorecards era (since 2015) to turn in a “perfect game.” Pat Hoberg was the first to do so, pulling off the feat in the 2022 World Series between the Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies.

Mark Ripperger umped the second-ever perfect game in the @UmpScorecards era (2015) last night

The other one was Pat Hoberg in the 2022 World Series pic.twitter.com/IhwDQhbE0i
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) April 11, 2025

The Royals defeated the Twins on Thursday, of 3-2. Thus, for Ripperger to go perfect from the field in what ended up being a one-run game makes it even more impressive.

Still only 44 years old, Ripperger began working MLB games in 2010 before graduating to a full-time MLB umpire in 2015. His most notable assignments include working the MLB All-Star Game in 2022, the World Series in 2024 and being behind the plate for Mike Fiers’ no-hitter with the then-Oakland Athletics in 2019.

Major League Baseball is also probably pretty pleased that Ripperger now holds the most recent “perfect game” for an umpire. After all, his predecessor, Hoberg, was just fired by MLB over a betting scandal.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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