Eli Bickel Lights Up MLB Umpire Camp at Isotopes Park

Prospect Meets Veteran Umpires in Albuquerque

After spotting 17-year-old Eli Bickel weaving through a sea of older fans, Isotopes PR man Forest Stulting shouted him over. Bickel’s grin gave away his excitement, and his outfit—black shirt with gray pants—set him apart from the typical batboy uniform. The camp featured seasoned officials such as Ted Barrett, Mike Everitt, Mark Carlson and Rich Rieker, whose combined experience exceeds 220 major‑league seasons and 14 World Series appearances. Over 140 participants gathered for drills ranging from ball‑and‑strike calls to base‑path positioning.

Regional Tour and Pathway to Professional Umpiring

The Albuquerque session was the third stop of a five‑city tour, following San Francisco in May and Nashville in June, with stops in Vero Beach and Brooklyn still ahead. Each event lasts more than three hours and aims to sharpen fundamentals. Selected candidates earn an invitation to the MLB Umpire Prospect Development Camp in Vero Beach, a fully funded four‑week program. Last year’s batch produced 53 graduates, 41 of whom now work in the minors.

Rieker’s Criteria for Future Officials

Rich Rieker, MLB’s senior director of umpire development, emphasizes hustle, attitude and responsiveness to feedback. He notes that even newcomers can succeed if they listen and correct mistakes. Bickel, still a high‑school junior, meets many of those traits after years of officiating Little League, club and high‑school games. He has already recorded two ejections: one for a parent’s relentless arguing and another for a coach’s profanity.

From Little League to the Dugout

Bickel began umpiring at age 12 and has logged countless games across New Mexico’s district and state tournaments, which send teams to Waco, Texas. His parents have been his biggest supporters, encouraging him despite the sacrifices of travel and time away from family. He first saw the Isotopes camp on social media and signed up to soak up tips on footwork and game intuition.

Goals Behind the Gear

While a high school diploma is still required for professional prospects, Bickel dreams of calling MLB games and perhaps shooing managers out of heated exchanges. He hopes the camp will boost confidence and expand his knowledge beyond watching veteran crews. “You can never know too much, especially in umpiring,” he said, noting that the experience fuels his ambition. As he walks away, the same broad smile remains, a sign that the pursuit of a baseball career is well underway.