Home plate umpire Chad Whitson endured a scary moment during Saturday’s game between the Seattle Mariners and Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Il.
Prior to the top of the sixth inning, the game was briefly delayed, and both teams came off the field for a few minutes. It quickly emerged that Whitson was suffering from some sort of illness and could not be able to continue behind the plate.
The game ultimately continued with three umpires, as second base umpire Dexter Kelley moved behind the plate.
Brief delay in Chicago after home plate umpire Chad Whitson suddenly departed the field.pic.twitter.com/uhDwrw8qQo
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) June 21, 2025
According to the Mariners’ TV broadcast, Whitson was tended to by EMTs after leaving the field.
EMTs are indeed on the scene here at Wrigley Field tending to home-plate umpire Chad Whitson, per the ROOT Sports broadcast and @RealBradAdam, who is just outside the visiting dugout.
— Daniel Kramer (@DKramer_) June 21, 2025
Dexter Kelley is now behind the plate, as there's now a three-man umpire crew.
There was no immediate word on Whitson’s condition, but it stands to reason that the issue was heat-related. Saturday’s game-time temperature at Wrigley Field was 94 degrees as a major heat wave hit part of the country on Saturday. Working even five innings behind the plate while wearing black is certainly a difficult task.
Whitson recently went viral for his response to one team’s complaints about the strike zone.
