Major League Baseball will test robot umpires at 13 Spring Training ballparks hosting 19 teams to explore potential regular-season use in 2026.
MLB has been experimenting with the automated ball-strike system (ABS) in the minor leagues since 2019, focusing on refining the shape of the strike zone.
The big picture: An agreement for the big league use of robot umpires would need to be reached with the Major League Baseball Umpires Association, with their collective bargaining agreement expiring on Dec. 1.
- MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred expressed interest in implementing robot umpires in 2026 but acknowledged the need to address collective bargaining obligations first.
- The spring training experiment with robot umpires will undergo evaluation to determine the feedback from clubs and players before any decisions are made for future use.
Driving the news: MLB has been experimenting with the ABS in minor leagues, making modifications to the strike zone based on where the ball crosses the midpoint of the plate.
- In Triple-A, a challenge system involving both robot umpires and human umpires was implemented to evaluate the performance of the automated system and ensure accurate decision-making processes.
