PHOENIX — Major League Baseball is set to introduce the automated ball-strike system (ABS) in a spring training game for the first time. This technology uses cameras to help umpires decide if a pitch is a ball or a strike. It’s been tested in the minors for four years, so it’s exciting to see it in action at the major league level.
However, ABS won’t be used for every pitch. Each team can challenge two calls during the game without losing a challenge if they’re correct. If this system becomes a permanent fixture in the MLB, it could change how fans watch the game starting in 2026.
The league is concerned that the digital box shown on TV, known as K-Zone, might interfere with the effectiveness of the ABS. K-Zone has been a part of baseball broadcasts since 2001, providing viewers a way to see the strike zone. Now, MLB is thinking about minimizing its presence on screens or potentially removing it altogether.
MLB’s executive vice president, Morgan Sword, mentioned that showing the strike-zone box could reduce the tension in the game, as fans would instantly know whether a pitch was a strike. He also raised concerns about the potential for cheating. If the strike-zone box is visible, fans in the stadium could relay information to the players, which would undermine the game’s integrity.
The way ABS challenges are made is different from current challenges. Players must call for a review immediately after the pitch, and they have to do it on their own without any aid from teammates or video replays. Umpires also have the power to deny these challenges if they feel the protocol isn’t followed.
MLB is experimenting with how to present the strike-zone box during broadcasts. They might show the box without the ball’s location, display the ball but hide the box, or represent just the corners of the zone. Broadcasters will likely cooperate with these changes as they’re keen to maintain the game’s integrity.
While the K-Zone system isn’t as crucial to baseball broadcasts as the yellow first-down line is in football, it does play an important role in how fans experience the game. It’s uncertain how much fans actually value the strike-zone box, but Sword noted that it might help casual viewers understand calls a bit better. However, it can frustrate those familiar with the sport, as it doesn’t always align with how umpires evaluate pitches.
There could be changes ahead for K-Zone, especially with the upcoming expiration of MLB’s contract with ESPN. The deadline for either party to opt out of the deal is March 1, and discussions appear stagnant.
This spring’s first big league game featuring ABS will be between the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers at 1:05 p.m. MST Thursday in Arizona.
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