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John Kruk’s On-Air Confession Revives MLB’s Automated Strike Zone Debate

The former Phillies star detailed how he threatened umpire Brian O’Nora in 1995, fueling calls for technology to improve ball-strike accuracy.

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Overview

  • On June 16 Kruk revealed during a live broadcast that he once threatened to kill Brian O’Nora after a disputed strike call in his penultimate MLB game.
  • The July 30, 1995 confrontation followed Kruk’s 15th consecutive hitless at-bat for the White Sox against the Orioles in Baltimore.
  • The former three-time All-Star capped his career the next day by singling off Scott Erickson to finish with a .300 lifetime batting average.
  • As a Phillies television analyst Kruk has consistently criticized umpiring mistakes, drawing on his playing experience to challenge questionable calls.
  • His latest admission has intensified calls among fans and analysts for Major League Baseball to adopt an automated ball-strike system to ensure consistency.