During the 2026 season, Major League Baseball will adopt a new strike zone review process that combines human umpiring with technology.
The league announced that robot umpires, officially called the Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS), will be used to review disputed pitch calls.
Unlike a system that takes over every pitch, ABS will only come into play when players challenge an umpire’s decision. Pitchers, catchers, and batters are the only individuals who can request reviews. Each team is limited to two challenges in a game, but if a challenge is successful, the team will not lose it. MLB says the process takes about 15 seconds and explained that it “will certify each player’s official height” so that the strike zone is calculated fairly for every player’s stance and size.
The technology powering the system uses 12 Hawk-Eye cameras placed around the stadium, connected through a private 5G network operated by T-Mobile. Hawk-Eye is already familiar to sports fans since it is used in tennis to confirm whether a ball lands in or out, and in football to measure down and distance. By tracking the ball’s exact path, ABS can determine whether a pitch enters or misses the strike zone.
Traditional strike zone calls rest on the judgment of home plate umpires, and players often argue that these rulings are inconsistent. Because the strike zone changes depending on the batter’s build and posture, mistakes are frequent and sometimes game-changing. ABS is intended to add precision, but human officials will still call most pitches.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said, “The strong preference from players for the Challenge format over using the technology to call every pitch was a key factor in determining the system we are announcing today.”
The league’s announcement follows several years of trials. The technology has already been tested in minor league competition, during spring training, and most recently at the 2025 All-Star Game. These test runs allowed the league to refine how ABS integrates with live play without disrupting the rhythm of a baseball game.
Not everyone sees the new system in the same way. As The Athletic has reported, a player’s perspective on ABS might depend heavily on their role and the moment. A hitter facing a full count with runners in scoring position could be more motivated to challenge a strike call than a batter in a low-pressure at-bat. At the same time, pitchers and catchers might weigh challenges differently depending on the game’s stakes.
Beyond strategy, there is also a bigger question about what technology does to the essence of baseball. The human element, including occasional mistakes, has always been part of the sport’s identity. While some see robot umpires as a solution to unfairness, others wonder if absolute precision might reduce the unpredictability that makes baseball so compelling.
Fans, players, and coaches will have their first chance to judge for themselves in 2026, when ABS officially becomes part of every MLB game. Whether it enhances the sport or sparks new controversies, robot umpires are set to change how the strike zone is called.
