Major League Baseball Approves Robot Umpires for 2026 Season

What Happened?

Major League Baseball (MLB) has voted to approve the use of robot umpires for the 2026 season. The competition committee for MLB approved the use of robot umpires for 2026 following several years of testing in the minor leagues. 

According to ESPN, hitters, pitchers, and catchers will be the only ones allowed to trigger the system by tapping their head, and if a challenge is successful, the pitch will be shown on in-stadium videoboards, teams will retain it. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred issued a statement on the decision saying, ‘I commend the Joint Competition Committee for striking the right balance of preserving the integral role of the umpire in the game with the ability to correct a missed call.’

Why it Matters

The ABS, or automated ball-strike system, is similar to automated systems used in tennis to judge whether or not a ball was outside the lines. ABS has been tested for several years in the minor leagues, and it has been used in major league All-Star games. While four of the players on the MLB competition committee voted against it, most see the vote in favor as inevitable, given the improvements that have been made to ABS technology. 

Studies have shown that human umpires correctly call balls and strikes in MLB games at least ninety-four percent of the time. That’s likely one reason why, as the New York Times reported, rather than using high-speed cameras to automate all balls and strikes, which was among the systems tested at the Triple A level when ABS experimentation started back in 2022. MLB decided to go with the challenge-based system it used in selected spring training earlier in 2025. 

Technology has found its way into other sports besides baseball and tennis, most notably in the National Football League as well as college basketball. In both sports, instant replay evolved from a fan favorite to a fan least favorite, because it slows down the game as referees use instant replay footage to look at plays in crucial game situations. That can interrupt the momentum of the game and cause the last few minutes of sporting contests to last much longer than they otherwise would have.

The introduction of the ABS system into MLB is a big step, putting the new technology to use at baseball’s premier level of competition. If the ABS system performs well, it could lead to expanded use in MLB in the future. 

How it Affects You

For both fans and players, the introduction of the ABS system to MLB will likely change the game and possibly the way it’s played. Catchers may frame pitches differently to adjust to the ABS system, and teams may save all their challenges for crucial situations.