Robot umpires are on the verge of joining MLB.
Commissioner Rob Manfred revealed to The Athletic’s Evan Drellich that the league will introduce an automated ball-strike challenge system during the 2025 spring training, aiming for full implementation in the 2026 regular season.
The system will allow teams two challenges per game, with the ability to retain them when successful. While not every spring training ballpark will have the ABS cameras, all teams will have the chance to familiarize themselves with the new system.
According to The Athletic:
“I think we will have a spring training ABS test that will provide a meaningful opportunity for all major-league players to see what the challenge system will look like,” Manfred said. “From my perspective, there’s two sides to that test: It’s what clubs think about it, and also, what do the players think about it? And we’re gonna have to sort through both of those.”
MLB has previously experimented with ABS systems in the minor leagues since 2019, utilizing two different formats. Some games featured robo umps calling every pitch, while others utilized the challenge system set to debut in spring training.
The challenge system was successfully implemented in Triple-A, as demonstrated in this game-ending instance:
During a period last year, MLB reported a 47% success rate with challenges.
While robo umps were once considered a drastic change for MLB, their gradual integration into the minor leagues has made them increasingly inevitable. Many current major leaguers have experience with the system due to its longstanding presence in the minors.
The league’s transition to automated calls has been slow but appears to be nearing completion. While there will likely be criticisms of the system (not every technically correct strike or ball may look like one), many fans will prefer it over the human element that can lead to contentious moments.