NEW YORK – If a minor league player says an umpire is acting like a robot this year, he might be right. Computer umpires for balls and strikes are coming to a low-level minor league but are a while away from the big leagues.
Major League Baseball plans to use Automated Ball-Strike technology (ABS) in eight of nine ballparks at the Low-A Southeast League, which starts play May 4 across Florida as minor league baseball resumes after a one-year break caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The Major League Baseball Umpires Association agreed in its labor contract that started in 2020 to cooperate and assist if Commissioner Rob Manfred decides to utilize the system at the major league level.