(Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)
All-Star week is a great time for Major League Baseball to reflect on the current season and test the waters for possible future changes.
After all, fans are excited to see the showcase of the game’s greatest talents, and their attention this year is sharply focused on Arlington, Texas.
It was there on Tuesday that a surprise announcement came down during a press conference.
The New York Times reported that baseball may test the next generation of umpiring during 2025 spring training.
Commissioner Rob Manfred made the declaration Tuesday, though there is not definite word that the robotic system will be ready when preseason baseball resumes.
MLB may test an automated strike zone in spring training next season, Commissioner Rob Manfred said Tuesday.
If successful, the system could be implemented by 2026, though there’s no guarantee MLB will proceed with testing next spring.
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) July 16, 2024
It is believed that the automated strike zone could be in place at the major league level as soon as 2026 if all goes well.
There is currently a system used in AAA baseball in which a human umpire still calls balls and strikes,
However, the pitcher, catcher and hitter each have the ability to challenge pitch calls, and that results in the implementation of the automated ball-strike system (ABS) that would then be used to determine if the pitch was indeed a ball or a strike.
The system individualizes each player’s strike zone for maximum accuracy.
Baseball purists resisted instant replay in the game right up until it was unveiled and proved largely successful in correcting missed calls.
There will be loud clamoring against the new robotic system, and there is no guarantee that it will be in place anytime soon.
But Manfred’s announcement served notice to players and fans that a significant change could be on the horizon.
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