MLB announces all Triple-A games will use automated ball-strike challenge system starting next week

The MLB has been monitoring its electronic ball-strike technology down in the minor leagues. They are preparing the technology to be integrated into the big leagues years down the road, which will surely change the game.

Down in Triple-A, the league has been using the automatic ball-strike system, designed to track each and every pitch. This was used for three games of the week while the other three games employed a challenge system, where teams could challenge a call, much like football.

Many players, coaches and fans enjoyed the challenge system a lot more, and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred will experiment with it. Starting next week, the league will use Triple-A games to determine the challenge system's best practices.

In the Pacific Coast League, teams will be issued three challenges per game and will retain a challenge when they are correct. For the international league, they will be issued just two challenges, retaining those when they are correct.

Robot umpires are coming to the MLB, it is just a matter of time

Rob Manfred (Image via USA Today)

For many fans, they cannot wait for MLB to introduce robot umpires at the big league level. They are tired of seeing the umpires take control of games and alter them one way or another with egregious calls like in this San Diego Padres game.

It is not just egregious calls that have had players, managers, and fans frustrated, it has also been their quick tempers. Even Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson, who has only been ejected four times since taking over in 2022 has been tossed this year.

There is no telling when robot umpires will arrive in the big leagues, but they are coming. Some insiders believe they could be introduced as early as the 2026 season.