The minor leagues have been working with the automated strike zone, also known as “ABS” or simply “robo” umpires, for a while now. They have used different versions of it depending on the park and league, but the concept is the same: helping eliminate the human factor (umpire mistakes) with the help of technology. Part of the idea of testing the ABS in the minors is to eventually implement the system in MLB. 2025, however, will probably not be the year in which the league starts using the robo umpires. “Rob Manfred says they’re still having technical issues with the automated strike zone so it’s unlikely that MLB will have it next year,” Talkin’ Baseball tweeted.
Rob Manfred says they’re still having technical issues with the automated strike zone so it’s unlikely that MLB will have it next year pic.twitter.com/MbsEJO0VNQ
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) May 24, 2024
“It’s becoming more likely that this will not be a go for 2025,” were Manfred’s exact words per Talkin’ Baseball, according to Ronald Blum of the Associated Press. Players are likely divided when it comes to preferences: some would like things to stay the way they are, others want the ABS, and others are in favor of a challenge system. Fans, on the other hand, have shown a marked preference for the automated strike zone over the last few years. They have populated Twitter with messages in support of the ABS, and often interact a lot with tweets about negative reviews of umpires and glaring officiating mistakes or missed calls. It appears the league is working toward a future with technology being in charge (at least partially) of strike calls, but the platform or the foundation is apparently still not ready to be applied in all parks.
