### MLB to Test Automated Umpires During Spring Training

Major League Baseball (MLB) is set to trial robot umpires as part of a challenge system across 13 ballparks hosting 19 teams during spring training. This could potentially pave the way for regular-season use as early as 2026. The automated ball-strike (ABS) system has been under experimentation in the minor leagues since 2019, though MLB is still fine-tuning the dimensions of the strike zone. Any major league implementation would require approval from the Major League Baseball Umpires Association, whose current collective bargaining agreement expires on December 1.

"I would be interested in having it in '26," stated MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred after an owners' meeting. However, he emphasized the importance of meeting collective bargaining requirements, terming it "a condition of employment" that needs resolution.

Before any firm decisions are made, MLB will evaluate the results of the spring training trials. Manfred highlighted that both clubs and players' feedback will be critical in deciding the future of ABS. During the upcoming spring training test, a selective number of ballparks will participate, ensuring every team gains meaningful exposure to the system.

The ABS system has been in use in Triple-A ballparks for the past two seasons. Strikes are currently called based on where the ball crosses the midpoint of the plate. Adjustments were made this year, increasing the top of the strike zone to 53.5% of the batter's height from 51%, while the bottom remained at 27%.

In the first half of the Triple-A season, robotic umpires were used exclusively for three games of each series, with a human-led challenge system deployed for the final three. However, from June 25 onwards, the system shifted to rely on human umpires with the challenge system throughout. Each team received three challenges per game in the Pacific Coast League and two in the International League, retaining their challenges if successful.

Manfred conveyed optimism about the upcoming spring training ABS test, seeing it as a meaningful opportunity for all major league players to understand the challenge system's mechanics. This experiment could provide essential insights as MLB considers how to incorporate these technologies into the regular season.