MLB announces they will be using robot umpires at Spring Training
Photo credit: Sportsnet
The MLB announced that they will be testing robot umpires at Spring Training this season as of of their new challenge system they are looking to implement.
Commissioner Rob Manfred has been talking about new ways to change the game in which fans have seen the pitch clock introduced and now Manfred is looking to incorporate the automated ball-strike system.
MLB will be testing robot umpires in Spring Training this season
According to reports, the testing for robot umpires will be in 13 ballparks for 19 different teams at Spring Training as the league looks to possible incorporate this new system by 2026.
Major League Baseball will test robot umpires as part of a challenge system during spring training at 13 ballparks hosting 19 teams, which could lead to regular-season use in 2026. -Associated Press
Manfred has stated in an interview that his goal is to be using this new system by the 2026 season in which the minor leagues has already incorporated this new system since 2023.
"I would be interested in having it in '26," baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said Wednesday after an owners' meeting. "We do have a collective bargaining obligation there. That's obviously a term and condition of employment. We're going to have to work through that issue, as well."
This new system calls strikes solely on where the ball crosses the midpoint of the plate which makes it nearly impossible for catchers to try and frame pitches which is a massive part of the game right now.
The ABS currently calls strikes solely based on where the ball crosses the midpoint of the plate, 8.5 inches from the front and the back. The top of the strike zone was increased to 53.5% of batter height this year from 51%, and the bottom remained at 27%. -Associated Press
Despite Manfred stating that human umpires will still have a place in the game as they will be relaying the calls made by the robot, it is surely the beginning of the end for them in the game of baseball.
It will be interesting to see how these test end up going in Spring Training 2025.
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