Umpire Manny Gonzalez leaves Reds vs. Padres game with 'heat illness'

Umpire Manny Gonzalez was forced to abandon Monday night's Reds vs. Padres game due to heat exhaustion, according to MLB umpire supervisor Randy Marsh. The ballpark in Cincinnati experienced 90-degree heat with 61% humidity when the game commenced. Gonzalez, who had worked four innings, began displaying symptoms behind the plate.

His vision became blurry, prompting a stop to the game for 14 minutes. He was attended to by third-base umpire Tom Hanahan, Reds head trainer Sean McQueeney, and medical personnel from both teams. Gonzalez was eventually dehydrated and had elevated blood pressure. The delay was largely due to Gonzalez needing to change into the equipment required for working behind the plate.

Former player Barry Larkin likened the situation to a harrowing event from his own professional career. Larkin, now a broadcaster, recalled John McSherry, a home plate umpire in 1996, who collapsed on the warning track after calling time and signaling for relief. Gonzalez, who is 46 and in his 14th season, became the first full-time big league umpire from Venezuela in 2013 and has officiated five postseason series and the 2017 All-Star Game.