MLB to Introduce Robot Umpires as Challenge System in 2026 Season
Major League Baseball will implement the Automated Ball/Strike System (ABS) as a challenge system in 2026, allowing teams two challenges per game to reduce ejections.
Robot umpires are coming to MLB. Here's how they work
Associated Press
MLB will use robot umpires in 2026
Associated Press
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Overview
- Major League Baseball (MLB) will officially introduce the Automated Ball/Strike System (ABS), or robot umpires, starting in the 2026 season.
- The new system will operate as a challenge mechanism, allowing each team to dispute two ball/strike calls per game, with human umpires making initial calls.
- The MLB's Joint Competition Committee approved the implementation of robot umpires, following extensive testing in the minor leagues since 2019.
- A key reason for this change is to reduce ejections, as 61.5% of MLB ejections last year stemmed from ball and strike disputes.
- Despite big league umpires calling roughly 94% of pitches correctly, teams won 52.2% of their ball/strike challenges this year, influencing the decision.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover the story neutrally, focusing on the factual implementation and mechanics of the Automated Ball/Strike System (ABS) in MLB. They explain how the system works, its testing history, and performance statistics without using loaded language or expressing an opinion on its merits or drawbacks. The coverage is purely informative, detailing the system's features and evolution.
"The challenge system introduces ABS without eliminating pitch framing, a subtle art where catchers use their body and glove to try making borderline pitches look like strikes."
CBS News"Robot umpires are coming to the big leagues in 2026 after Major League Baseball’s 11-man competition committee on Tuesday approved use of the Automated Ball/Strike System."
Associated Press"The introduction of robot umpires is expected to enhance the game by reducing ejections and improving the accuracy of calls."
Associated Press"The challenge system, which has been used at various levels in the minors since 2021 and all Triple-A games in 2024, was implemented for the first time in spring training games this year and at the All-Star Game."
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FAQ
The Automated Ball/Strike System (ABS) is a robot umpire technology that uses Hawk-Eye cameras to assist in calling balls and strikes. Starting in the 2026 season, MLB will use ABS as a challenge system where human umpires make initial calls, but each team can challenge two ball/strike calls per game. Additional challenges are available in extra innings.
MLB is introducing robot umpires primarily to reduce ejections related to ball and strike disputes, which accounted for over 61% of ejections among players, managers, and coaches last year. Despite human umpires calling about 94% of pitches correctly, teams won over half of their ball/strike challenges, motivating implementation of ABS.
Each team will start with two challenges per game for ball/strike calls. If the game goes into extra innings, teams that have used all their challenges receive one challenge for the 10th inning, and if used, another for the 11th inning, and so on. Teams with remaining challenges at the start of the 10th will not get an additional challenge for that inning.
The ABS has been tested extensively since 2019 in various minor leagues. It was trialed at the 2019 Atlantic League All-Star Game, used in the 2019 Arizona Fall League, tested at eight of nine Low-A Southeast League ballparks in 2021, and advanced to Triple-A level in 2022 before MLB approval.
Human plate umpires will continue to call balls and strikes initially, with ABS serving as a review system through challenges. The human umpire’s role remains central, with ABS providing a tool to confirm or overturn calls upon request by teams.
History
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