Reds reliever Caleb Ferguson has issued a public apology to umpire Bill Miller after Ferguson directed disparaging, expletive-filled remarks on Monday night.
“Don’t feel great about it for sure,” Ferguson told reporters Tuesday. “Definitely pretty uncharacteristic for myself. As long as I have been in this game I don’t know if you will find a clip of me going at an umpire like that. Definitely going to have to wear that one on the chest.”
Ferguson said he’s going to directly talk to Miller if he can to make things right with the veteran umpire.
“Going to seek Bill out, going to try to at some point,” Ferguson added. “Definitely make it right with him cause very unprofessional on my part. Nothing you can do with it now, but just have to move on. I know Bill’s doing his best to not be in his way in that situation, so I’ve got to be better on my part too.”
#Reds Caleb Ferguson apologizes for calling umpire Bill Miller a certain combination of disparaging words after Miller got in Edwin Arroyo’s way on a play. pic.twitter.com/sRfr9piD8D
— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubMLB) July 21, 2026
Ferguson lashed out after Miller inadvertantly got in the way of Cincinnati infielder Edwin Arroyo, preventing him from making a play.
Ferguson’s comments, in which he insulted Miller’s weight, were caught on the broadcast and went viral.
“F–king fatass, get out of the way. Fat motherf–ker,” Ferguson appeared to say toward the umpire.
Ferguson was in the midst of a frustrating outing when he confronted Miller. Two batters before the incident occurred, Ferguson gave up a grand slam to Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh that put Seattle up 7-0. Ferguson was only charged with two earned runs in 2/3 of an inning, but the damage was done.
The Mariners would go on to shut out the Reds 8-0.
“It’s just a very unprofessional thing on my part,” Ferguson said. “I know these things happen within the game.
“But I don’t like that I was kind of the centerpiece of this.”
