{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}} {{short description|American baseball umpire (born 1985)}} {{For|similarly named people|Shawn Barber (disambiguation)}} {{Infobox baseball biography | number = 29 | name = Sean Barber | team = MLB | position = Umpire | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|5|22}} | birth_place = Lakeland, Florida, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | image = | width = | caption = | debutleague = MLB | debutdate = March 30 | debutyear = 2014 | umpirecrew = E | crewchief = #92 James Hoye | crew2 = #17 D. J. Reyburn | crew3 = #84 John Libka | crew4 = #29 Sean Barber | highlights = Special assignments *2013 World Baseball Classic qualification *Wild Card Series (2023) *MLB Little League Classic (2019, 2021, 2023) | hofdate = | hofvote = | hofmethod = }} '''Sean Michael Barber''' (born May 22, 1985) is an American professional baseball umpire in Major League Baseball (MLB). He began working in MLB as a call-up umpire in 2014 and was hired as a full-time umpire before the 2022 season.
==Career== Barber graduated from Lake Gibson High School in Lakeland, Florida, in 2004. He began working as an umpire at the age of 15 in Little League Baseball in North Lakeland and also called high school baseball games.<ref name=ledger2014/><ref name=ledger2006/>
Barber enrolled at Hillsborough Community College. While he was working at a pet store, Barber was bitten by an eel through the bone of his right hand near his thumb, requiring him to get 27 stitches three weeks before the start of his sophomore year.<ref name=ledger2006/> Unable to write, Barber turned his attention to umpiring, and enrolled at the Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School.<ref name=ledger2006/> He graduated from the school in the top 25 of his class. Barber attended an umpiring camp hosted by Major League Baseball (MLB),<ref name=ledger2014>{{cite web|url=https://www.theledger.com/story/news/2014/04/27/lake-gibsons-sean-barber-is-umpiring-in-the-majors-10-years-after-hs/26953024007/ |title=Lake Gibson's Sean Barber is Umpiring in the Majors 10 Years After H.S |work=The Ledger |date=April 27, 2014 |accessdate=August 5, 2022}}</ref> and was hired as an umpire in Minor League Baseball in 2006,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-five-umpires-promoted-to-major-league-staff|title=Five umpires promoted to Major League staff|website=MLB.com|date=February 4, 2022|accessdate=August 5, 2022}}</ref> making his professional baseball debut in the Appalachian League.<ref name=ledger2006>{{cite web|url=https://www.theledger.com/story/news/2006/07/16/will-polks-gipson-barber-achieve-goal-of-wearing-mask-of-mlb-umpire/25885159007/ |title=Will Polk's Gipson, Barber Achieve Goal of Wearing Mask of MLB Umpire? |work=The Ledger |date=July 16, 2006 |accessdate=August 5, 2022}}</ref> He umpired in the 2012 Arizona Fall League (AFL) Rising Stars Game<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.closecallsports.com/2012/11/roster-arizona-fall-league-rising-stars.html|title=Roster: Arizona Fall League Rising Stars Game|work=Close Call Sports|date=November 3, 2012|accessdate=August 5, 2022}}</ref> and the 2013 World Baseball Classic qualification.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.closecallsports.com/2013/03/roster-2013-world-baseball-classic.html|title=Roster: 2013 World Baseball Classic Umpires|work=Close Call Sports|date=March 8, 2013|accessdate=August 5, 2022}}</ref> He returned to umpire in the AFL in 2013 and one of his calls was the first to be tested for expanded instant replay.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mlbs-proposed-expanded-replay-trial-begins-with-flawless-first-test-game/c-63715408|title=Fast and flawless: Expanded replay trial begins|website=MLB.com|date=November 5, 2013|accessdate=August 5, 2022}}</ref>
Barber became a call-up umpire for MLB in 2014. After he umpired in 690 MLB games through the 2021 season, MLB hired Barber as a full-time umpire before the 2022 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-hires-first-full-time-umpire-from-puerto-rico|title=Roberto Ortíz named first full-time umpire from Puerto Rico|website=MLB.com|date=February 4, 2022|accessdate=August 5, 2022}}</ref>
==Personal life== Barber's father, Glenn Chancey, has worked as an umpire and umpiring instructor in the North Lakeland Little League since 1991.<ref name=ledger2014/>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{baseballstats|retro=B/Pbarbs901}} {{Major League Baseball Umpires navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Barber, Sean}} Category:1985 births Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Lakeland, Florida Category:Major League Baseball umpires Category:Minor league baseball umpires