MLB Embraces Tech: Robot Umps In 2026

Major League Baseball will use robots to help call balls and strikes starting in the 2026 season.

Testing for robot baseball umpires has been ongoing for years, and after six years, they have been officially approved to work home plate in MLB games.

When Baseball Umpires Began

Traditionally, the home plate umpire called balls and strikes, cleaned the plate, and argued disputed calls.

Umpires became regular in baseball when the National League was created in 1876. It wasn't until 1882 that the American Association of Umpires was created, which began assigning them to games and paying them a salary.

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Baseball Gets Tech Boost With 2026 Robot Umps

Major League Baseball has announced that the ABS System will be in use beginning in the 2026 season. Behind-the-plate umpires will still call the game. If there is a question about whether it's a ball or a strike, the system is used similarly to an NFL game when a challenge is made, but it's much faster.

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Each team gets two challenges per game. Only the batter, catcher, or pitcher may initiate a challenge. The process takes only 15 seconds, and the fans can see the result on the big screen or at home on their TV.

The batter, catcher, or pitcher taps their hat to signal for a challenge. No coaches or other players can do this. Hawkeye cameras locate the pitch relative to the batter's strike zone and put the information on the big screen. If the challenge is successful, you get to keep it, but if not, you lose it.

The system was tested in thousands of minor league games and this year's MLB All-Star Game. Watch the video above to see the system in action.

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