According to ESPN, all 30 Class AAA ballparks will be using electronic strike zones during the 2023 season. As MLB aims to use the data and feedback from these games to inform future choices, the move marks another step toward possibly implementing this technology in the majors.
“We believe over the long haul it’s going to be more accurate, it’ll reduce controversy in the game and be good for the game,” said MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred during an interview with Fox Business. “We think it’s more accurate than a human being standing there. The current strike zone design is actually three-dimensional, and a camera is better at calling a three-dimensional strike zone than the human eye.”
The Automatic Balls and Strikes system, often referred to as ABS, will be deployed this year in two different ways. Half of the Class AAA games will be played with all calls determined by an electronic strike zone, and the other half will be played with an ABS challenge system. Similar to what is seen in professional tennis, the challenge system works by having a human umpire make the calls in real time, while each team is allotted a certain number of requests per game to have a call reviewed by the electronic system.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member