The latest evolution in the way an MLB game is played is seeing great strides being made and could see play testing sometime in the near future is everything goes according to plan.
Back in June, MLB fully committed to an introduction of an electronic strike zone component for the remainder of the Triple-A season.
It was a decision made after they felt there was enough evidence of its positive impact on the game’s quality and it was an important first step toward a possible implementation at the Major League level sometime in the future.
Now, the automated ball-strike (ABS) challenge system could see a brand new and even more vital proving ground next season, according to Alden González of ESPN:
Major League Baseball hopes to test robot umpires as part of a challenge system during spring training next year, making an automated ball-strike component possible as early as 2026.
The outcome of this Spring Training trial for the ABS challenge system will decide its feasibility in a regular season game, which is why MLB commissioner Rob Manfred will only give the green light once all the kinks are ironed out:
But MLB commissioner Rob Manfred still seems far from committing to that date, saying Tuesday that the league has “technical issues surrounding the definition of the strike zone” that need to be ironed out before it is even tested by major league players.
If the ABS challenge system is ready to go by Spring Training next season and passes with flying colors, then official implementation by the 2026 season becomes a very realistic outcome:
“We need ’25 to do the spring training test if we can get these issues resolved, which will make ’26 a viable possibility,” Manfred said during his annual pre-All-Star Game gathering with the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA). “Is that going to be the year? I’m not going to be flat-footed on that issue.”
MLB decided on choosing the ABS challenge system rather than the full ABS system largely due to player feedback in the Minors, which gives this ABS component its best chance of succeeding with Major League players.
MLB pitcher’s opinion on ABS system
Walker Buehler got first-hand experience with the new system during his rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City back in April.
He was was still skeptical about its future in MLB even though he was pleasantly surprised during his time with it, but also admitted some of the other rule changes he was skeptical of have seemed to be working well so far.
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