In 2024, Major League Baseball plans to deploy an automated strike zone system to eliminate umpire errors behind the plate.

This would eliminate the human aspect of the game entirely. At that point, the MLB should just put robots on the field.

The automated ball-strike system (ABS) provides proof of the strike zone per batter by analyzing their height to create the strike-zone dimensions. The umpires will have headsets on which the call is relayed through to them and then they call it.  

This system was implemented in the Minor Leagues and the Arizona Fall League during the 2022 season. Most players reacted well to the new change stating that it is also good for crowd engagement when they put the pitch outcome on the video board. The games also averaged nine minutes faster. However, the MLB already found a solution to the length problem by eliminating the pitch clock.

Two of the four major tennis tournaments, Wimbledon and the Australian Open, both use the hawk-eye system for line calling. The line-calling system uses multiple camera angles to trace the ball’s contact point. If there is a close call, then the video board will show the angle used to make the decision. But the other two major tennis tournaments, the US Open and French Open, still use line umpires. Players are allowed three challenges per set so the technology is there but not being used throughout the whole match. In this case, we can use tennis to really analyze the pros and cons of technology. We can also get inside information on coaches and players’ opinions on if they prefer one way or the other. Using tennis as a guide, we can make further conclusions. 

There is another option that would still use the automated ball-strike system but that wouldn’t change baseball entirely. An option that MLB proposed was adding challenges for the pitcher, catcher, and batter, while each team gets three challenges per game. 

This would be similar to the NBA coaches challenge rule. Coaches are allowed one challenge throughout the entire game, regardless of the outcome of the challenge. 

In addition, the MLB already has instant replays of certain scenarios such as close plays at first base, tag plays on base runners and homerun challenges for if the ball was fair or foul or went over the wall. Since there are already challenges for other parts of the game, adding an additional challenging opportunity wouldn’t be a huge deal.

The MLB challenge system was used in the Minor Leagues during the past season, alongside the few other new rules. So far, one-third of the challenges have been successful.

“It’s a lot of fun with the pitch challenge,’ minor league Red Sox infielder Nick Yorke added. “It gets everyone into it after someone challenges. Everyone is like, ‘Ooooh,’ after they see the pitch. I think it’s been pretty fun. So I’m a fan of it.”

Most other minor league players had a similar experience to the ABS challenge system.

Mets prospect pitcher Mike Vasil reflected after a game – “Even if I do throw a strike that’s called a ball, I think it keeps the game true for where it should be. I think it also helps the umpires keep a consistent zone.”

A robot umpire would alter the game too much in a negative way. Part of the fun is the unexpected in the plate calls. From an economic standpoint, it would also be laying off a lot of workers who have been with the league for 20-plus years. Every umpire is doing their best and we should respect that as fans and players. As much as the technology says it is using scientific proof to determine the strike-zone, there’s always going to be error. 

I can get on board with the ABS challenge system. It is a happy median between retaining the human aspect of the game and robot umpires.

AI is taking over the world. Let’s keep sports ours.