MLB has been experimenting with the automated ball-strike system in the minor leagues since 2019 but is thinking about using the system on MLB games as early as 2026.
Major League Baseball may test robot umpires as part of a challenge system in spring training in 2025 and could debut it in regular-season in 2026.
“I said at the owner's meeting that it is not likely that we would bring ABS to the big leagues without a spring training test. OK, so if it’s ’24 that leaves me ’25 as the year to do your spring training test if we can get these issues resolved, which would make ’26 a viable possibility,” baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said during a meeting with the Baseball Writers’ Association of America Tuesday. “But is that going to be the year? I’m not going to be flat-footed on that issue.
“We have made material progress. I think that the technology is good to a 100th of an inch. The technology in terms of the path of the ball is perfect.”
“We do have technical issues surrounding the definition of the strike zone that still need to be worked out,” Manfred said.
