Identical twin umpires make MLB history by suiting up together

Austin Jones worked first base at Camden Yards on Wednesday. His twin brother, Tyler, worked second. It was the first time the brothers from South Carolina had worked a major league game together. It is the first time identical twins had umpired a major league game.

The drew the opener of a Blue Jays-Orioles doubleheader. Baltimore won 4-2, and the loss knocked Toronto out of the playoff race.

The twins joined Mark Wegner's crew and were expected to umpire the nightcap as well.

The Jones started umpiring in the minors in 2014, when they worked together in the Gulf Coast League, a rookie league in Florida. They hadn't shared a professional field since then. Both spent this season at Triple-A and had been called up the the majors separately.

Austin made his big league debut on July 22, 2024, and then he was behind the plate when then Rangers ace Max Scherzer, who started the first game Wednesday for Toronto, struck out his 3,400th career hitter.

They are the fourth set of brother to umpire in the majors. They join the Welkes, the Hirschbecks and the Jimenezes. Tim and Bill Welke spent four seasons on the same crew.

The Joneses…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/sports/