What was going on with the umpire pants in the Brewers game Friday?

TL;DR

During the Brewers vs. Twins game on May 15, umpires started without their standard pants due to a delayed equipment trunk. They later changed into the correct gear, while one umpire wore mismatched pants initially.

Key points

Umpires started the game without standard pants
Equipment trunk was delayed and did not arrive on time
Umpires changed into correct gear later in the game

Stu ScheurwaterJunior ValentineJordan BakerRob Drake

Fans watching the narrow Milwaukee Brewers win over the Minnesota Twins on May 15 may have noticed something strange around the diamond: The team of umpires seemed to be missing their customary uniform pants when the game began.

The game broadcast indicated that a trunk of equipment didn't make it to Target Field on time, including the pants, though the umpires were able to change into the correct gear later in the game.

But the late arrival left the team of arbiters (first-base ump Stu Scheurwater, second-base ump Junior Valentine and third-base ump Jordan Baker) wearing the pants they wore that day to the stadium. Home-plate umpire Rob Drake was able to wear standard gear that happened to be on site.

Milwaukee Brewers third baseman David Hamilton (6) fields a ball in the third inning at Target Field on May 15, 2026. Behind him, second-base umpire Junior Valentine donned mismatched pants after a trunk of equipment failed to arrive by game time.

"It was ugly early," Brewers manager Pat Murphy joked. "Like our offense."

Twins starter Joe Ryan said he believed Scheurwater was wearing a Lululemon fit. Brewers second baseman Brice Turang said he told the umpires they should adopt the less rigid look more often.

"Get comfy," Turang said.

The umpires played a pivotal role in the game on more than just the fashion front. Third-base umpire Baker's pivotal obstruction call in the eighth inning allowed the Brewers to tie the game at 2-2; one batter later, put the Brewers ahead with a double. That's how the game finished, at 3-2.

Q&A

Why did the umpires wear mismatched pants during the Brewers game?

The umpires wore mismatched pants because a trunk of equipment, including their standard pants, did not arrive on time for the game.

What happened to the umpire uniforms during the Brewers vs. Twins game?

The umpires began the game without their customary pants, as the equipment trunk was delayed, but they changed into the correct gear later.

Who were the umpires involved in the Brewers game incident?

The umpires involved were first-base ump Stu Scheurwater, second-base ump Junior Valentine, third-base ump Jordan Baker, and home-plate ump Rob Drake.