MLB test of robot umpires for checked swing calls moving up to Triple-A
MIAMI (AP) — Major League Baseball’s experiment with a robot umpire technology system to challenge verified swing calls is moving from Class A to Class Triple-A.
MLB will also test moving second base slightly to position it entirely in the infield, which would reduce the distance between first and second and between second and third by 9 inches, according to a memorandum sent to teams last week.
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It will attempt to reduce pitchers’ allowed strikeouts from two to one per plate appearance and stricter limits on hitter timeouts and reset the pitch clock for issues with PitchCom, the electronic signaling device used since 2023.
There will also be a test allowing starting pitchers to re-enter games at the lowest level of the minor leagues. This test is not expected to lead to MLB implementation, but is envisioned for the minors to improve player development and health by allowing for more flexible workload management.
MLB’s automated ball-strike challenge system, called the robot umpire, will launch at the start of the season on March 25, following testing that began 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 during additional rounds.
An experiment began May 20 in Class A of the Florida State League, allowing verified swing calls to be challenged, and the test was extended to the Arizona Fall League.
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Starting May 5, the controlled swing test will be expanded to the Triple-A Pacific Coast League in addition to the FSL.
“The batter, pitcher or catcher may also appeal the umpire’s decision as to whether the batter swung at a pitch,” according to MLB Vice President of On-Field Strategy Joe Martinez’s memo to general managers and other club officials. “A swing will be considered to have occurred if the maximum angle between the head of the bat and the shaft of the bat exceeds 45 degrees.”
Martinez said the strikeout rate was reduced by 3% in testing last year.
Additionally, umpires at Triple-A International League games will be instructed to apply the 45-degree threshold to determine swings. Baseball’s official rules do not specify a standard for controlled swings, stating only: “A strike is a legal pitch when called for by the umpire, which is hit by the batter and is missed.” »
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Since the 1970s, catchers have been allowed to ask the home plate umpire to appeal no-hit calls on controlled swings to the first and third base umpires, but no appeals have been allowed when a strike has been called on a controlled swing.
Starting pitchers will be allowed to re-enter a game after being ejected from the Arizona Complex League, Florida Complex League and Dominican Summer League. An ejected starting pitcher is eligible to return if he threw at least 25 pitches during the inning in which he was ejected, may only return at the start of an inning, and may only re-enter once.
MLB widened the bases from 18 square inches to 15 in 2023, a change that led to more stolen bases due to a reduced distance of 4 1/2 inches between first and second, and second and third.
The second goal was centered in the exact spot of the second, but International League experience will place it “entirely within the perimeter of the inside diamond during the second half” of the season.
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Citing an increase in the average length of a nine-inning game from 2 hours, 36 minutes in 2024 to 2:38 last year and a decrease in the success rate of stolen base attempts from 80.2% in 2023 to 77.8% last year, MLB will experiment with changes to pitch clock rules.
Triple-A teams will be assigned a mound visit if play is stopped due to a PitchCom issue, and if a team has no more visits, an automatic ball will be charged.
At all levels, the clock will not stop when a catcher leaves the catcher’s box to give defensive signals, and players other than the pitcher and coaches must leave the mound before the mound visit clock ends. A violation would result in an automatic bullet.
In Class A, batters will not be allowed to call time out if the bases are empty and in Class A, no timeouts will be allowed. Exceptions will be allowed for brush strokes, possible injuries or equipment issues.
The groundouts allowed by pitchers from the rubber will be reduced from two to one at Double-A.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
