| Ron Kulpa | |
|---|---|
 Kulpa in 2011 | |
| MLB – No. 46 | |
| Umpire | |
| Born: (1968-10-05)October 5, 1968 (age 57) St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. | |
| MLB debut | |
| July 23, 1998 | |
| Crew information | |
| Umpiring crew | G |
| Crew members |
|
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Special assignments | |
Ronald Clarence Kulpa (born October 5, 1968) is an Americanumpire inMajor League Baseball. He wears uniform number 46.
Kulpa's professional umpiring career began in 1992 and he advanced to thePacific Coast League in 1998. Kulpa was one of the 22 umpires promoted in the wake of theMajor League Umpires Association's mass-resignation strategy in July1999, and was named to theNational League staff for the remainder of the 1999 season. When the umpiring staffs from the two leagues merged for the2000 season, Kulpa began working in both leagues.
He has worked several MLB Special Events, including theAll-Star Game (2001,2015),Wild Card (2020),Division Series (2001,2002,2006,2007,2008,2009,2011,2017,2020,2021),League Championship Series (2005,2013,2014), andWorld Series (2011,2021). He also officiated in the2009 World Baseball Classic. Kulpa was named a Crew Chief for the 2022 MLB season.
Kulpa was head-butted byCarl Everett of theBoston Red Sox in 2000 during an argument about the location of the inner boundary of thebatter's box. Everett was suspended for 10 games and fined.
On August 12, 2013, he ejected Rangers catcherA. J. Pierzynski for arguing a ball three call during pitcherYu Darvish's bid for a perfect game against theHouston Astros. The perfect game was broken up moments later on an ensuing ball four pitch to Astros batterJonathan Villar.[1]
During the 2nd inning of an Astros-Rangers game on April 4, 2019, after a low pitch fromMike Minor outside the strikezone toTyler White was called a strike, the Astros dugout expressed displeasure at the call, to which Kulpa responded back. After a short conversation with Astros managerA.J Hinch, Kulpa proceeded to stare into the Astros dugout while Minor was on the mound ready to pitch. After Hinch told Kulpa to "Look over there", Kulpa proceeded to eject Astros hitting coachAlex Cintron. On the following pitch, after no further provocation by the Astros dugout, Kulpa again stared at the Astros dugout, leading to Hinch telling Kulpa "You can't keep doing it". Kulpa responded with "I can do anything I want", before ejecting Hinch from the game.[2] Kulpa would later interrupt Astro's pitcherGerrit Cole's warm-up pitches before the 4th inning after having instigated an argument with Cole and Astro's catcherMax Stassi, after Cole began walking to the dugout after a potential 3rd strike that was instead called a ball by Kulpa.[3]
On April 8, 2021, Kulpa made a controversial call as the home-plate umpire of a game between theNew York Mets and theMarlins. The game was tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the bases were loaded for the Mets.Michael Conforto of the Mets went up to the plate. The controversy ensued after a pitch thrown by closerAnthony Bass hit Conforto. Kulpa, however, ruled it to be ahit by pitch, even though the pitch was a strike, and Conforto seemed to lean into the pitch. The Mets walked off and won the game. Kulpa later talked to reporters and admitted that he made the wrong call. Both managers of the teams commented on the call.Don Mattingly, manager of the Marlins, remarked: "Kulpa knows it was a strike. He couldn't go backwards in his mind. Honestly, he's probably feeling bad. To be honest with you, I bet he feels awful." However,Luis Rojas, manager of the Mets, commented that Conforto did not intentionally lean in, claiming: "I looked at the replay ... I don't think he leans, but that's kind of how he moves his hands. Even throwing to him in batting practice, he does that on pitches in."[4][5]
Kulpa was the home plate umpire whenDetroit Tigers pitcherJustin Verlander threw ano-hitter atComerica Park vs. theMilwaukee Brewers on June 12,2007.[6] Five days before Verlander's no-hitter, Kulpa called balls and strikes in a game between the Red Sox and theOakland Athletics in which Boston pitcherCurt Schilling had a no-hitter untilShannon Stewart broke up the no-hitter with a single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning.[7]
Kulpa was the first base umpire on July 9, 2011, whenDerek Jeter of theNew York Yankees got his3000th careerhit against theTampa Bay Rays. He was the plate umpire forHenderson Álvarez's no-hitter on September 29, 2013.[8]
On September 13, 2020, Kulpa was the first base umpire for ano-hitter thrown byAlec Mills of theChicago Cubs against theMilwaukee Brewers.[9]
Prior to pursuing professional umpiring, Kulpa attendedFlorissant Valley Community College before transferring toMissouri Baptist College, where he finished his playing career before attending umpire school.
