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MLB will start using robot umpires in 2026
Posted on 9/24/25 at 3:18 pm
Posted on 9/24/25 at 3:18 pm
A Trackman device used for the Automated Ball-Strike System is posted on the balcony behind home plate before a spring training baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Phoenix.
https://apnews.com/article/robot-umpires-mlb-2026-d70c6431d1cccfcf7a6e69e3ce47b417
quote:
Major League Baseball’s 11-man competition committee on Tuesday approved use of the Automated Ball/Strike System in the major leagues in 2026.
Human plate umpires will still call balls and strikes, but teams can challenge two calls per game and get additional appeals in extra innings. Challenges must be made by a pitcher, catcher or batter — signaled by tapping their helmet or cap — and a team retains its challenge if successful. Reviews will be shown as digital graphics on outfield videoboards.
https://apnews.com/article/robot-umpires-mlb-2026-d70c6431d1cccfcf7a6e69e3ce47b417
quote:
Adding the robot umps is likely to cut down on ejections. MLB said 61.5% of ejections among players, managers and coaches last year were related to balls and strikes, as were 60.3% this season through Sunday. The figures include ejections for derogatory comments, throwing equipment while protesting calls and inappropriate conduct.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone, who leads the American League in ejections for the fifth straight year, called the adoption “inevitable.”
quote:
Stadiums are outfitted with cameras that track each pitch and judge whether it crossed home plate within the strike zone. In early testing, umpires wore ear buds and would hear “ball” or “strike,” then relay that to players and fans with traditional hand signals.
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Posted on 9/24/25 at 3:26 pm to Shexter
Just put an ear piece in the home plate umps ear that says "BALL" or "STRIKE" instantaneously and they can still make the calls and have a bunch of the flare on a strike 3.
I feel like this would be best of both worlds. Challenges slow an already slow game down more.
I feel like this would be best of both worlds. Challenges slow an already slow game down more.
Posted on 9/24/25 at 3:32 pm to Shexter
About freaking time.
I see the need to on field calls. I’m good with that but some of the dipshit umpires get way too much in their feelings and decide if you don’t like my call you are ejected.
I love the automated ball/strike calls. Keeps the game fair and there isn’t much you can argue because the strike zone will show exactly where it crossed so if it’s a strike, it’s legit a strike, a ball, it’s legit a ball.
If by some chance, there is a fallacy, it can get over turned by the booth just like safe and out.
I see the need to on field calls. I’m good with that but some of the dipshit umpires get way too much in their feelings and decide if you don’t like my call you are ejected.
I love the automated ball/strike calls. Keeps the game fair and there isn’t much you can argue because the strike zone will show exactly where it crossed so if it’s a strike, it’s legit a strike, a ball, it’s legit a ball.
If by some chance, there is a fallacy, it can get over turned by the booth just like safe and out.
Posted on 9/24/25 at 3:39 pm to Shexter
Computer should call all balls/strikes
Posted on 9/24/25 at 3:40 pm to Shexter
You won't be able to celebrate a close strikeout without waiting for the review. 
Posted on 9/24/25 at 3:40 pm to Shexter
Tennis has gone fully automated on line calls, and there is no issue. If the computer says out, players accept and move on to the next point. Balls and strikes should be no different.
Posted on 9/24/25 at 3:43 pm to Shexter
But where does it end? Robot pitchers? Robot batters? Robot hotdog sellers selling hotdogs to robot fans?
Posted on 9/24/25 at 3:51 pm to Huey Lewis
quote:
But where does it end? Robot pitchers? Robot batters? Robot hotdog sellers selling hotdogs to robot fans?
I agree with this. The human element is part of what makes baseball baseball.
Posted on 9/24/25 at 3:57 pm to T1gerNate
My Uncle has a saying, if it can't be timed or measured, it's crooked. I think there should be umpires, but add balls and strikes to the challenge. To keep umps honest and the games moving along, have a minimum threshold of accuracy where the ump loses his job. Call it the Angel Hernandez rule.
Posted on 9/24/25 at 3:57 pm to Huey Lewis
quote:
But where does it end? Robot pitchers? Robot batters? Robot hotdog sellers selling hotdogs to robot fans?
Robot hot dogs. That'll be the end. Honus Wagner warned everybody about this but nobody listened.
Posted on 9/24/25 at 4:02 pm to Shexter
The OP is a little disingenuous. They aren't using Trackman for calling balls and strikes in 2026.
They are going to use Trackman for CHALLENGES limited to two per team per game.
They are going to use Trackman for CHALLENGES limited to two per team per game.
Posted on 9/24/25 at 4:14 pm to Huey Lewis
quote:
But where does it end? Robot pitchers? Robot batters? Robot hotdog sellers selling hotdogs to robot fans?
Players too. Chicago Cyborgs against the Richmond Robots.
Posted on 9/24/25 at 4:34 pm to Shexter
quote:
Adding the robot umps is likely to cut down on ejections.
Lame. Cant handle Bobby Cox
Posted on 9/24/25 at 4:39 pm to T1gerNate
quote:
The human element is part of what makes baseball baseball.
Ear piece still has the feeling of human element. They still call safe or out on the bases, still call strike or not on check swings, they still have flare on strike 3, etc.
The game needs help getting pitches called correctly. There have been some horrific calls this season as I've watched, almost feels like it's getting worse. Also stops constant arguing over calls as it has in tennis.
Posted on 9/24/25 at 4:50 pm to CatfishJohn
quote:
There have been some horrific calls this season as I've watched, almost feels like it's getting worse.
The article reads differently
quote:
Big league umpires call roughly 94% of pitches correctly, according to UmpScorecards.
Posted on 9/24/25 at 4:53 pm to Shexter
Bye bye MLB
Posted on 9/24/25 at 5:48 pm to Shexter
quote:
MLB will start using robot umpires in 2026
No. Not even close.
Just using an automated strike zone for challenges, the human umpires are still making the calls.
quote:
In early testing, umpires wore ear buds and would hear “ball” or “strike,” then relay that to players and fans with traditional hand signals.
This will be the next step in a few years, though. Fully automated strike zones.. but even then umpires will be needed.
Posted on 9/24/25 at 6:29 pm to Shexter
I didn’t say they were always wrong, just seen some really terrible misses, like really terrible. And I feel like the really bad ones have been more frequent than eras past.
Posted on 9/24/25 at 6:39 pm to LSUBoo
quote:
This will be the next step in a few years, though. Fully automated strike zones.. but even then umpires will be needed.
I don't think it will ever get to 100% automated. If they were to do that, catching would completely change. Zero concern with framing at that point and they could just focus on the runner and blocking pitches.
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