NEW YORK (AP) — Brian Runge, sidelined by an injured knee since last summer, has been dropped from the major league umpiring staff and has been replaced by Chris Conroy.
The 43-year-old Runge, part of the first three-generation family of big league umpires, had been a member of the major league staff since 1999. He was the second base umpire for last summer’s All-Star game in Kansas City. He also was behind the plate last year for Phil Humber’s perfect game for the Chicago White Sox and for Seattle’s combined no-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Bothered by a knee injury, Runge hasn’t worked a big league game since Aug. 30. His father Paul and grandfather Ed also were big league umpires.
Conroy, 38, has been a professional umpire since 2000 and has been a big league fill-in since 2009.
MLB made the announcement Friday.
