Major League Baseball’s Automated Ball-Strike System Makes a Successful Debut
On a sunny Friday at Salt River Fields, the spring training home shared by the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies, Major League Baseball (MLB) unveiled its Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) system to a receptive audience. The system allows teams to challenge the home-plate umpire’s ball or strike calls twice per game. If the challenge is successful, the team retains the challenge; if not, they lose it. The D-backs and Rockies both had successful challenges, with the D-backs getting it right on both of their attempts and the Rockies following suit on consecutive pitches. This initial test run was a positive step forward, offering a glimpse into the future of baseball’s officiating.
Corbin Burnes: A Positive First Impression
Corbin Burnes, the right-hander who signed a marquee six-year, $210 million deal with the D-backs this offseason, was one of the first to experience the ABS system in action. In the top of the first inning, Burnes was dominating the Rockies, striking out the leadoff hitter, Brenton Doyle. However, a 1-2 pitch to Kyle Farmer was called a ball, despite being close enough to warrant a challenge. D-backs catcher Gabriel Moreno, who was initially hesitant, tapped his helmet, and the Hawk-Eye technology confirmed the pitch was indeed a strike. Burnes, who had momentarily forgotten about the ABS system, was thrilled with the outcome. “I totally forgot about the ABS until I threw that pitch and everyone started yelling. Moreno tapped his head, and it turned out to be a punch out,” he said. Burnes added that he liked the system, but he acknowledged that a larger sample size would be needed to fully evaluate its effectiveness.
The Rollout and Future Prospects
The ABS system is currently being tested in 13 spring training ballparks—five in Arizona and eight in Florida. These ballparks are equipped with the advanced Hawk-Eye tracking system, which has been continuously improved to better track ball movement and increase accuracy. The system is a significant step toward potential major-league implementation, though it is not expected to be used in regular-season games until at least 2026. The ABS system has been tested in the minor leagues since 2021 and will continue to be used in Triple-A this season, with teams allowed three challenges per game. The goal is to refine the technology and address any issues before it is rolled out in the big leagues.
Veteran vs. Young Player Perspectives
The ABS system has received mixed reactions from players, particularly when it comes to the traditional interaction between pitchers and umpires. Justin Verlander, the 42-year-old right-hander for the San Francisco Giants, has a nuanced view. Verlander, who has 267 career wins, tried the system during a rehab start at Houston’s Triple-A Sugar Land club last season. While he doesn’t think the system is inherently bad, he acknowledges that it will take time to get right. “We don’t know the ripple effects of it,” he said. “But in the end, in big spots everyone wants the call to be right.” Verlander, a veteran of the game, would miss the traditional back-and-forth with umpires, which he sees as an integral part of baseball. “He sets up, and I have a little margin for error over here. I have none [with the ABS system],” he explained. “He likes to call the high one, but doesn’t like to call the low one. That’s the game of baseball. I don’t want to take that away.”
Young Players Embrace the Change
In contrast to Verlander’s reservations, younger players like Alek Thomas, a 24-year-old D-backs outfielder, have grown up with the ABS system and are more comfortable with it. Thomas has been playing with the system since 2021 during his time in the D-backs’ minor league system, including rehab stints for a left hamstring injury. “It’s cool. I like it,” he said. “I wish we had more challenges. In the minor leagues, I tapped my head a lot if I didn’t agree with a call. But in spring training, I don’t think I’ll be tapping my head too much.” Thomas’s familiarity with the system highlights the generational divide in baseball, where younger players are more adaptable to new technologies and rules.
The Path Forward
The ABS system is part of MLB’s broader efforts to modernize the game and ensure fair and accurate officiating. While the initial test run at Salt River Fields was successful, there are still challenges to overcome, particularly in terms of accuracy on borderline pitches. MLB has been working to improve the Hawk-Eye technology, and the continued testing in spring training and the minor leagues will provide valuable data and feedback. Players like Burnes and Verlander, who have experienced the system firsthand, will play a crucial role in shaping its future. As the technology evolves and more players become accustomed to it, the ABS system could become a standard feature in major-league ballparks, enhancing the game for fans and players alike.
