CB Bucknor, an umpire with a long history in Major League Baseball, faced intense scrutiny during a recent game between the Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds on March 28, 2026. Bucknor, who has been officiating since 1996, had a particularly challenging outing, with six of his calls being overturned by the Automated Ball-Strike system.
The game in Cincinnati saw a total of eight challenges, with the Cincinnati Reds successfully overturning five calls, while the Boston Red Sox managed just one successful challenge. Notably, Eugenio Suárez of the Reds had two consecutive pitches called strikes by Bucknor that were later overturned, highlighting the inconsistencies in his officiating.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora was ejected from the game after arguing a call made by Bucknor, further emphasizing the frustrations surrounding the umpire’s performance. Cora remarked, “He has one job to do, it’s (to) call balls and strikes. It wasn’t his best day,” reflecting the sentiments of many who watched the game.
The final score was a close 6-5 victory for the Cincinnati Reds after 11 innings, but the focus remained on Bucknor’s officiating. The Red Sox lost their challenges early in the game due to missed calls, which contributed to the mounting tension on the field.
Ryan Watson, a pitcher for the Reds, commented on the atmosphere, stating, “That’s probably the loudest I’ve heard a stadium while pitching,” indicating the heightened emotions surrounding the game. He also noted, “It was like ‘Oh man, that’s two in a row,'” referring to the overturned calls against Suárez.
At 63 years old, Bucknor is one of the longest-tenured active umpires in MLB, but this game has raised questions about his current performance level. Observers are left wondering how this incident will affect his future assignments and the ongoing discussions about umpire accountability in the league.
As the season progresses, it remains to be seen how MLB officials will address the concerns raised by Bucknor’s performance and whether any changes will be implemented to improve officiating standards.