MLB to implement robot umpires starting next season

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Transcript

00:00Major League Baseball will implement the Automated Balls and Strikes Challenge System, or ABS, for next season.

00:15And now it's coming full time.

00:18The league announced the Challenge ABS system will be in place for the 2026 season.

00:23That system allows players to challenge balls and strikes from home plate umpires.

00:28Many see this as a middle ground between keeping the human element in the game and automating decisions.

00:35I have mixed feelings about it. You know, the bottom line is you can't outrun technology.

00:40Former umpire Dale Scott, who called three World Series, said current umpires were hesitant at first, but grew into the idea.

00:49We have people watching games on, you know, 85 inch screens in super high definition, billion pixel, whatever.

00:58Um, and you have an umpire who has to make a call on something, uh, one time in real time.

01:04You know, a lot of the guys are saying now, okay, you know what, we can't fight City Hall, so to speak.

01:07You can't fight technology.

01:09Bring it on and now you can yell at the machine and leave me alone.

01:12Each team will get two challenges at the start of every game.

01:16Teams get to keep each successful challenge.

01:19Unsuccessful challenges will be lost.

01:22Teams who lose all their challenges will get a new one for each extra inning played.

01:27The hitter, pitcher and catcher are the only players who can challenge a call by tapping on their cap or helmet.

01:34Players got a chance to use this system during spring training this year and during the All-Star game.

01:40I think a pretty seamless change that way.

01:43Um, but as far as how it affects the game and how it affects special moments, um, you know, that's, that's what we'll find out.

01:52For Straight Arrow News, I'm Chris Francis.

01:55For more unbiased, fact-driven news, download the Straight Arrow News mobile app today or go to SIN.com.