MLB Teams Plotting Strategy for Regular Season Arrival of Robo Umpires

When the automated ball-and-strike system first appeared in Major League Baseball spring training last year, it felt like a novelty, a shiny new gadget that sparked curiosity and a few eye rolls from traditionalists.One year later, the novelty is gone.The ABS system, sometimes known as robo umpires, is officially part of the 2026 regular season in a carefully crafted compromise between human judgement and technology. As camps open across Florida and Arizona, managers, coaches and players are developing plans on how to use the ABS system for a competitive advantage.“This isn’t about robots taking over,” Joe Martinez, MLB’s vice president of on-field strategy, told USA Today. “It’s about giving teams a fair, consistent mechanism to challenge calls that can change games.”How Does It Work?Despite the nickname “robo umps,” human umpires still call every pitch. But if a pitcher, catcher or batter believes a ball or strike call was missed, they can challenge the ruling by tapping their cap or helmet, triggering an immediate graphic on the scoreboard that reveals to everyone in the ballpark-whether the umpire or the player was right.Each team is allotted two challenges over nine innings, and successful challenges are retained. Miss twice, however, and no more challenges are allowed unless the game goes into extra innings where one additional challenge is granted per inning.A challenge must be issued within two seconds of the pitch. No help from the dugout is permitted. After viewing the scoreboard graphic, the umpire announces the updated count and play resumes.Across spring training trials last year, the average challenge took just under 14 seconds, adding roughly one minute per game.“Umpiring is harder than ever,” Chris Young, president of baseball operations for the Texas Rangers, said recently. “If there’s the ability to use technology to add a level of consistency, that’s great for everybody.”Strategy Is the Real AdjustmentNow that the ABS system is a regular-season reality, teams aren’t focused on trusting the computer as much as trusting the right people to make the challenges.The challenges are precious and can’t be wasted in the first two innings by self-serving batters and pitchers. Managers will use spring training to determine who earns the right to challenge and when. Warren Schaeffer, who managed a Triple-A team in Albuquerque when the ABS system debuted in the minor leagues in 2022, said not having a strategic plan can cause chaos. “You’ll have 15 guys with 15 opinions,” he said. “What matters is that everyone is on the same page.”Managers are stressing not to use challenges early in the game. “You want to have one late in the game, just in case,” Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “The top of the first inning on a 0-0 fastball? I don’t want to challenge and lose.”Pitchers Need Not ApplyThough pitchers, catchers and hitters are the only ones allowed to challenge an umpire’s call, Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona has decided not to let his pitchers initiate a challenge. “They think everything is a strike,” Mr. Francona said, adding, “We don’t have a strategy in place because we want to kind of see how it plays out.”Pitchers and umpires naturally have a love-hate relationship that can easily get emotional. Mr. Lovullo said he expects catchers to take the lead. “They have the best view,” he said. “Pitchers get emotional. Hitters can, too. Catchers are usually the most grounded.”Dave Roberts, manager of the defending back-to-back champion Los Angeles Dodgers, said teams are still discovering who truly understands the strike zone and who merely thinks they do.“There’s not always a great self-evaluation,” Mr. Roberts said. “Who knows the (strike) zone? Who gets emotional? Who understands leverage? Those conversations are coming.”Measuring the Zone — LiterallyThe ABS system, also used in last year’s All-Star Game, operates on an individualized strike zone. Each player’s height is being measured during spring training with data verified by the Southwest Research Institute.The top of the strike zone is set at 53.5% of a batter’s height, the bottom at 27%. Theoretically, taller hitters may see fewer borderline high strikes, while shorter hitters could benefit at the bottom of the strike zone.During previous spring training trials, teams challenged 2.6% of all called pitches. The overturn rate was 52.2%, nearly identical to Triple-A results. Interestingly, the success rate declined as games wore on from 60% in the early innings to the low 40s later in games.At Triple-A, roughly four challenges were used per game, with about 3.5% occurring in the ninth inning, reinforcing managers’ instincts to save challenges for leverage moments.Robots Aren’t Perfect EitherThe ABS system will be used in every MLB ballpark with the exception for games not played in major league stadiums, including the Mexico City Series, the Field of Dreams Game and the Little League Classic.As with any technology, glitches are possible. Out of 88,534 pitches tracked during spring training last year, only 291 went untacked due to malfunctions. Should that happen during a regular season game, the umpire’s call will stand with teams keeping their challenges.Despite the potential for glitches, Texas Rangers president of baseball operations, Chris Young, said utilizing the ABS system is long overdue. “The game is harder than ever,” he said. “If technology can add consistency that’s good for everyone.”There could be instances when a team asks for instant replay–first implemented in 2008 and expanded in 2014—at the same time it seeks to challenge a ball or strike call. In those situations, umpires will rule on the instant replay first before addressing the pitch challenge. Umpires then have discretion on any baserunning plays that could be affected by the outcome of the challenge.A Season of Adjustments AheadWhile there will be plenty of conversations and experimentation during spring training, strategies will evolve throughout the season. Much like in football where challenge flags are used only at critical moments, baseball must figure out not only who should make the challenges, but at what point during the game. The inning, the number of outs, the number of people on base, the skill of the batter and pitch count all must be factored in an instant.“What we do in April may be different in July,” Los Angeles Angels general manager Perry Minasian said. “This is one of the unique things about this year.”A Tool for Talented EyesThe ABS systems trial suggests hitters with exceptional zone awareness will benefit more than others. Pitchers love to make hitters chase balls just outside the strike zone and benefit from umpires who might have a wider zone than others. Players like New York Yankees slugger and three-time AL MVP Aaron Judge now become even more dangerous. Known for a keen eye in addition to his home run power, Mr. Judge led the American League with 124 walks last year“Our guys who are really good at controlling the zone should benefit,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Aaron knows the zone as well as anyone.”Meanwhile, MLB announced game broadcasts will no longer display the on-screen pitch tracker that indicates whether a pitch crossed the strike zone. “With ABS now determining the zone, we want fans to trust the system without second-guessing every call through a digital strike box,” an MLB spokesman said.Fans Can Still Boo UmpireFull automation was also tested in the minors, beginning in the Atlantic League in 2019, but walks increased, games dragged, and catchers could no longer employ the ancient skill of framing pitches. The challenge system, which retains the human element, was overwhelmingly preferred by fans, players and managers.In summation, the robots are not here to replace umpires but to support them.

MLB Teams Plotting Strategy for Regular Season Arrival of Robo Umpires

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