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Diam⚾️ndBuzz: February 19, 2025

The Dawn of ABS in Major League Baseball

For more than a century and a half, Major League Baseball has prided itself on tradition—the crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd, the indelible mark of human judgment behind home plate. But in 2025, the grand old game will take a decisive step into the future with the implementation of the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) system during Spring Training.

For some, it is a long-overdue embrace of precision and fairness. For others, it is an unwelcome intrusion into a game that has always balanced the human element with its evolving technological landscape. One thing, however, is certain: ABS is coming, and baseball will never be the same.

What is ABS and Who Created It?

The ABS system, often referred to as the "robot umpire," was developed by TrackMan, a Danish company known for its pioneering work in radar tracking technology. Initially introduced to track the flight path of golf balls, TrackMan’s foray into baseball has revolutionized how the game measures pitches. In recent years, MLB has refined ABS with the help of Hawk-Eye Innovations, a British company renowned for its work in tennis and soccer officiating.

The system operates using a combination of radar and high-speed cameras that analyze a pitch’s trajectory with pinpoint accuracy. Each pitch is instantly assessed, and the verdict—ball or strike—is relayed to the home plate umpire via an earpiece. While the human umpire remains on the field, ABS dictates the calls, removing personal interpretation from the equation.

Why MLB Wants to Test ABS in 2025

The case for ABS is simple: consistency, fairness, and modernization. For decades, players, managers, and fans have lamented missed calls, strike zones that fluctuate from one umpire to the next, and the ever-controversial “frame job” that catchers have mastered to earn borderline strikes. The ABS system promises to eradicate these inconsistencies, ensuring that every pitch is adjudicated with machine-like precision.

Rob Manfred, MLB’s Commissioner, has been candid about the league’s push for technological enhancements. “We owe it to our players, our teams, and most importantly, our fans to make sure the game is officiated as accurately as possible. The ABS system is another step in that direction.”

Spring Training provides the perfect testing ground. Games have no bearing on regular season standings, and teams can experiment with the system before a potential implementation in live games. The league will use a hybrid model—some games will feature full ABS control, while others will employ the challenge system, where teams can request an ABS review on disputed calls. This will allow MLB to gauge the best approach for regular season use.

here's how the system will work during 2025 spring training

Implementation: The ABS system will not be used in every spring training ballpark, but all teams will have the opportunity to play with it1.

Challenge System: MLB will use a challenge-based approach for the ABS system:Teams will be given two challenges per game1.If a challenge is successful, the team will retain it1.

Testing Period: The ABS system will be tested throughout the 2025 spring training session1.

Future Plans: MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has expressed interest in potentially implementing the system for the 2026 regular season1.

Decision Process: Before any potential implementation in 2026, Manfred stated that both player and team perspectives would be taken into account1.

Previous Experience: MLB has been using automated strike zones in the minor leagues since 2019, employing two types of systems:One system is used by umpires on every pitch.The other system gives teams two or three challenges per game

Anticipated Benefits and Possible Downsides

The ABS system brings with it a host of benefits, beginning with fairness. No longer will pitchers and hitters have to adjust to an umpire’s individual strike zone tendencies. A strike will be a strike, regardless of who is behind the plate.

For pitchers, this means greater confidence in hitting precise locations without worrying about a call being dictated by an umpire’s perception. For hitters, it eliminates the frustration of inconsistent calls, particularly in crucial moments.

However, the transition is not without concerns. The beauty of baseball often lies in its imperfections, and some fear that removing human discretion will sap some of the game’s character. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who witnessed ABS firsthand in Triple-A, expressed mixed emotions. “Look, we all want fairness, but baseball isn’t a video game. There’s an art to umpiring, and I’d hate to see that lost completely.”

Additionally, the strike zone itself has been a point of contention. While ABS follows the rulebook definition—knees to letters—it doesn’t account for a batter’s stance adjustments, which umpires have traditionally considered. This could lead to an uptick in high strike calls that hitters aren't accustomed to seeing enforced so rigidly.

Another concern is pace of play. While ABS eliminates arguments over ball and strike calls, early tests have shown a brief lag in pitch adjudication. If delays mount, MLB may need to tweak the system’s efficiency.

Voices from the Minors: What Players and Managers Have Experienced

Since 2019, Minor League Baseball has served as a proving ground for ABS, with various leagues testing different iterations. The results have been enlightening.

Sean Kazmar Jr., a veteran minor leaguer turned coach, saw both sides. “It takes the guesswork out, and that’s good. But some guys loved working an umpire’s tendencies. With ABS, that’s gone.”

Orioles top prospect Jackson Holliday echoed a similar sentiment: “It’s weird at first, but you adjust. The strike zone doesn’t change from game to game, and that consistency helps. I think most hitters will end up liking it.”

The Future of ABS in MLB

While Spring Training will be the first time ABS is deployed in full during MLB games, the league has already mapped out its potential role in the regular season. As it stands, MLB plans to introduce ABS on a limited basis during the 2025 season, with an eye toward full implementation by 2026.

The most likely scenario is a continued test of the challenge system, where managers or players can appeal ball-strike calls in real time. This approach keeps umpires engaged while providing an avenue for ABS to correct egregious errors.

Beyond 2025, additional enhancements are being explored, including personalized strike zones that adjust in real-time to a hitter’s stance rather than a predetermined box. Additionally, MLB is researching a fully automated plate-calling system that could one day remove the home plate umpire’s responsibility altogether—an idea that remains controversial.

Manfred remains optimistic but cautious. “We’re not rushing this. We want to make sure it works, that it improves the game, and that players and fans ultimately embrace it.”

The Verdict: A New Era Beckons

As the first pitch of Spring Training 2025 is thrown, all eyes will be on the strike zone—not the umpire’s interpretation of it, but the cold, calculated judgment of ABS.

Baseball has always been a game of adjustments, and just as players evolve to meet the challenges of each era, so too must the game itself. Whether ABS ultimately enhances or detracts from the sport’s enduring charm remains to be seen. But one thing is undeniable: the future of baseball is being written in real time, and the ABS system is holding the pen.

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