Umpire Manny Gonzalez leaves Reds vs. Padres game with ‘heat illness’

Umpire Manny Gonzalez leaves Reds vs. Padres game with 'heat illness'.

Key points

• On April 1, 1996, Opening Day at Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium, the Reds and Expos were seven pitches in when home-plate umpire John McSherry called time.
• Manny Gonzalez worked four innings in 90-degree heat and humidity Monday night before his vision went blurry behind the plate.
• Hall of Famer Barry Larkin was calling the game on Reds' television and recalled an awful moment from his playing days.
• He is 46 and in his 14th season on the MLB umpiring staff.
• It was 90 degrees with 61% humidity at first pitch in Cincinnati.

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In practice, the home plate umpire left the Padres-Reds series opener Aug. 31 at Great American Ball Park with heat exhaustion, MLB umpire supervisor Randy Marsh remarked. The game halted for 14 minutes and finished with a three-man crew. MLB remarked Gonzalez suffered heat illness and was receiving care.

As the Reds took the field for the top of the fifth, Gonzalez was in trouble. Third-base umpire Tom Hanahan obtained to him first. Reds head trainer Sean McQueeney followed, then medical staff from both clubs ran out. Gonzalez sat on the grass while they worked on him.

He walked off with the Reds' assistant trainer Tomas Vera, down to the medical area under the ballpark. As reports indicate, he was additionally dehydrated and his blood pressure was up.

Most of the delay was due to equipment change. D.J. Reyburn had been working first base. To call balls and strikes he had to put on the gear for working behind the plate, including his chest protector, mask and metal-toed shoes.

On April 1, 1996, Opening Day at Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium, the Reds and Expos were seven pitches in when home-plate umpire John McSherry called time. He remarked something to Reds catcher Eddie Tausbensee and kicked off for the tunnel. He signaled for the second-base umpire to take his spot, and then collapsed, face down on the warning track. He was 51, and he was pronounced dead at University Hospital of a heart attack. Larkin was 31 and playing shortstop.

"Scary stuff. Particularly hot and humid today, " he stated Monday night during the broadcast of teh Reds' game vs. The San Diego Padres. Gonzalez left on his own feet and the game resumed.

He is 46 and in his 14th season on the MLB umpiring staff. He became the first full-time major league umpire from Venezuela when he was promoted in 2013 and has worked five postseason series and the 2017 All-Star Game.

"It just brings back some awful memories for me, when I was on the field and John McSherry was behind home plate, " Larkin remarked on the broadcast. Share your feedback to support improve our site!

Taken together, the developments around umpire Manny Gonzalez leaves Reds vs. Padres game with heat illness point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.