Major League Baseball spring training is just a couple of months away now and it’s getting a high-tech upgrade. This year, MLB is testing out robotic umpires.
The automated ball-strike challenge system, or ABS, made its debut in the 2022 Triple-A season. Now, it’ll be tested out at 13 ballparks hosting 19 different major league teams when spring training starts in February.
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MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said he wants players to get some experience with the new technology as the league figures out how it will eventually be implemented. The new system is expected to be a big part of the conversation as the Umpires Association’s contract is set to expire on Dec. 1.
The commissioner said he’s eying bringing the new tech in for the 2026 regular season, but that’ll depend on whether testing is a home run or strikes out.
