MLB players and managers have mixed feelings around robot umpires in Spring Training
Bob Nightengale and Gabe Lacques share feedback from players and managers regarding robot umpires in this year’s Spring Training.
Sports Seriously
In the spring training battle of pitchers, catchers and batters vs. borderline strike calls from umpires, the players prevailed – but just barely.
Major League Baseball’s tryout of a challenge system utilizing automatic ball-strike technology resulted in 52.2% of calls getting overturned, according to data furnished by the league.
The Hawk-Eye technology that fuels the ABS zone was available in 13 ballparks and for 288 Cactus and Grapefruit league games played this spring, resulting in an average of 4.1 challenges per game. The challenge system was largely lauded by players, managers and fans, perhaps most notably because the impact on game play was minimal.
The feedback was reflected in the data: Delays caused by challenges averaged 13.8 seconds, the time it takes for a batter, pitcher or catcher to indicate the challenge, the home plate umpire to signal to the press box that a review was requested, and then for the ABS verdict to be displayed both on a stadium video board and for viewers at home.
Consequently, time of game increased slightly, from 2 hours, 35 minutes in 2023 and 2024 to 2:38 this spring; however, an increase in runs scored and on base percentage (from .331 in ’24 to .340 this year) makes that increase even more statistically insignificant.
Teams were granted two challenges a game and retained a challenge if it was successful. The grievances were virtually even among hitters (2.1 challenges per game) and pitchers and catchers (2.0).
Yet it’s catchers who were most successful. Batters were correct on 50% of challenges and the defense on 54.4%. Within that, reviews initiated by catchers were overturned 56% of the time compared to 41% for pitchers, perhaps attributable to the catcher’s best seat in the house.
And overall, the numbers closely mirrored a full season – or 740 games – worth of data at Class AAA in 2024. The minor leaguers challenged a few less calls per game (3.9 to 4.1) and were a little less successful (50.6% to 52.2%) than big leaguers this spring.
The challenge system will not be used in major league games this season, but there is a strong chance it will be implemented for the 2026 season.
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