| Number: | 12 |
| Erich Bacchus | |
| Birth Date: | November 2, 1990 |
| Birth Place: | Germantown, Maryland |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutyear: | August 7, 2020 |
| Umpirecrew: | 10 |
| Crewchief: | Laz Díaz |
| Crew2: | Andy Fletcher |
| Crew3: | Mike Estabrook |
| Crew4: | Erich Bacchus |
| Highlights: | Special Assignments |
Erich Bacchus (born November 2, 1990) is an American professional baseball umpire. He has been an umpire in Major League Baseball since 2020 and was promoted to the full-time umpiring staff in 2023.[1] Bacchus wears uniform number 12.[1]
Bacchus graduated from the Wendelstedt umpiring school in 2012 and began his career in 2017, umpiring in the Arizona League, New York-Penn League, Florida Instructional League, South Atlantic League, Carolina League, Eastern League and International League. He also worked one season in the summer collegiate Coastal Plain League[2] as part of an umpire development agreement with Major League Baseball.[3] During that time, he was chosen as an umpire for the 2017 All-Star Futures Game,[4] and the 2019 International League Championship Series.[5]
He made his Major League debut on August 7, 2020 as the second base umpire during a game between the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.[6]
On September 21, 2023, Bacchus called a near-perfect game, missing just one call at home plate in the Los Angeles Dodgers-San Francisco Giants matchup.[7] Bacchus' game was the compared to that of Pat Hoberg, who called a similarly perfect game in Game 2 of the 2022 World Series.[8]
On May 16, 2024, Bacchus ejected Houston Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco for using a foreign substance on his glove while pitching. According to the umpire, it was "the stickiest stuff I’ve felt on a glove".[9] The next month, he was criticized for a call during a June 6 game between the San Diego Padres and the Arizona Diamondbacks, which saw Bacchus call Jake Cronenworth out on a third-strike call on a high pitch.[10]
Bacchus has served as an instructor at the Wendelstedt Umpiring School since 2016.[11]
An avid runner, Bacchus competed in a half marathon on behalf of "Umpire Cares Charities" in Holly Springs, NC.[3]
He holds dual citizenship, as a citizen of both the United States and Switzerland.[1]
Bacchus is engaged to Taylor Allen and lives in Germantown, Maryland.