MLB has introduced the ABS (Automated Ball-Strike) Challenge System—often referred to as “robot umps”—bringing player challenges of ball-or-strike calls to the Major League level. Every MLB ballpark is already equipped with a 12-camera trac
See moreMLB has introduced the ABS (Automated Ball-Strike) Challenge System—often referred to as “robot umps”—bringing player challenges of ball-or-strike calls to the Major League level. Every MLB ballpark is already equipped with a 12-camera tracking setup that follows the ball’s flight and players’ movements, and the technology has been tested in the Minor Leagues since 2022.
It has also been reported that, after years of experimenting with how to use the technology in real games, the most widely accepted option was a true middle ground: the human umpire remains the primary decision-maker, and ABS steps in only when a player chooses to challenge a call. In that sense, it seems to be a good example of keeping the game’s human feel while using automation as a targeted backstop to improve the experience. (April 2026)
Learn more
https://www.mlb.com/news/abs-challenge-system-mlb-2026
Video credit:
MLB Official Youtube
