MLB Moves Check-Swing Robot Umps Challenges, Experimental Rules to Triple-A
#robot umpire #checked swing #Triple-A #experimental rules #PitchCom #challenge system #minor leagues #MLB
📌 Key Takeaways
- MLB is moving its robot umpire challenge system for checked swings from Class A to Triple-A for further testing.
- Experimental rules include moving second base inward to reduce base distances and limiting pitcher disengagements to one per plate appearance.
- Additional tests involve stricter batter timeout limits, PitchCom clock resets, and allowing starting pitchers to re-enter games in lower minors.
- The Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System, allowing appeals on ball/strike calls, launches in Triple-A on March 25 with each team having two challenges.
📖 Full Retelling
Major League Baseball's experiment of a robot umpire technology system allowing challenges to checked swing calls is moving up from Class A to Triple-A. MLB will also test moving second base slightly to position it entirely within the infield, which would reduce by 9 inches the distance between first and second, and between second and third, according to a memorandum sent to teams last week. It will try out reducing permissible disengagements by pitchers from two to one per plate appearance and stricter limits on batter timeouts and resetting the pitch clock for issues with PitchCom, the electronic signaling device that has been used since 2023. There will also be a test allowing starting pitchers to re-enter games in the lowest level of the minor leagues. It's not expected this test will lead to MLB implementation, but it's being considered for the minors to improve development and player health by allowing more flexible workload management. MLB's Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System, the so-called robot umpire, launches when the season starts March 25 following tests that started in the minors in 2019. A batter, catcher or pitcher can appeal a ball/strike call by the human umpire under a system in which each team has two challenges and keeps its challenge if successful. Additional challenges become available to teams in extra innings. An experiment began last May 20 in the Class A Florida State League allowing challenges to checked swing calls, and the test was extended to the Arizona Fall League. Starting on May 5, the checked swing test will take expand to the Triple-A Pacific Coast League in additional to the FSL. "The batter, pitcher or catcher may also appeal the umpire’s decision regarding whether the batter swung at a pitch," according to the memo from MLB vice president of on-field strategy Joe Martinez to general managers and other club executives. "A swing will be considered to have occurred if the maximum angle between the bat head and the bat handle
🏷️ Themes
Technology Integration, Rule Experiments, Player Development
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Original Source
Major League Baseball's experiment of a robot umpire technology system allowing challenges to checked swing calls is moving up from Class A to Triple-A. MLB will also test moving second base slightly to position it entirely within the infield, which would reduce by 9 inches the distance between first and second, and between second and third, according to a memorandum sent to teams last week. It will try out reducing permissible disengagements by pitchers from two to one per plate appearance and stricter limits on batter timeouts and resetting the pitch clock for issues with PitchCom, the electronic signaling device that has been used since 2023. There will also be a test allowing starting pitchers to re-enter games in the lowest level of the minor leagues. It's not expected this test will lead to MLB implementation, but it's being considered for the minors to improve development and player health by allowing more flexible workload management. MLB's Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System, the so-called robot umpire, launches when the season starts March 25 following tests that started in the minors in 2019. A batter, catcher or pitcher can appeal a ball/strike call by the human umpire under a system in which each team has two challenges and keeps its challenge if successful. Additional challenges become available to teams in extra innings. An experiment began last May 20 in the Class A Florida State League allowing challenges to checked swing calls, and the test was extended to the Arizona Fall League. Starting on May 5, the checked swing test will take expand to the Triple-A Pacific Coast League in additional to the FSL. "The batter, pitcher or catcher may also appeal the umpire’s decision regarding whether the batter swung at a pitch," according to the memo from MLB vice president of on-field strategy Joe Martinez to general managers and other club executives. "A swing will be considered to have occurred if the maximum angle between the bat head and the bat handle
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