By Geoffrey H. Latayan
Major League Baseball (MLB) will test its robot umpire technology for ball-strike challenges in Tuesday’s All-Star Game at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia.
The development would be another step toward possible regular-season use next year.
Teams won 52.2 percent of their ball/strike challenges during the spring training test, with 617 of 1,182 challenges successful in the 288 exhibition games using the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) System.
The ABS system was installed at 13 spring training ballparks hosting 19 teams, and an animation of the pitch was shown on video boards displaying the challenge result for spectators to see.
ABS may be used in regular-season games in 2026
In June, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said that the ABS system was likely to be considered for regular-season use by the 11-man competition committee.
Manfred pointed out the positive response from teams for the possible use of robot umpires for next season.
“I do have that unscientific system that I use: my email traffic. And my distinct impression is that using ABS in spring training has made people more prone to complain of balls and strike calls via email to me referencing the need for ABS,” he said.
During the 2024 regular season, 10.9 percent of called pitches in the strike zone were ruled balls and 6.3 percent of called pitches outside of the strike zone were ruled strikes, according to MLB Statcast.
MLB has been experimenting with the automated ball-strike system in the minor leagues since 2019.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: British and Irish Lions news: Lions prevail, but tested yet again
Dan Iassogna named umpire crew chief
Major League Baseball has designated Dan Iassogna as the umpire crew chief and will work the plate during Tuesday night’s All-Star Game.
MLB on Thursday also announced Iassogna’s crew for the annual event. It will include Marvin Hudson at first, Chris Segal at second, Jansen Visconti at third, Jeremie Rehak on the left and Erich Bacchus on the right.
The 56-year-old umpire will work his second All-Star Game. He was at third base for the 2011 game at Arizona.
He worked his first big league game in 1999, was hired to the major league staff in 2004 and appointed a crew chief ahead of the 2020 season.
Iassogna umpired the World Series in 2012, 2017 and 2022 along with eight League Championship Series and seven Division Series.
Segal, Visconti, Rehak and Bacchus will work their first All-Star Games and Hudson his second after being in left field in 2004 at Houston.
Tony Randazzo will be the replay umpire in New York.
READ NEXT: UEFA Women’s Championship 2025: Lucy Bronze says England will not take Wales lightly
Adam Peaker 
Newsjustnews writers 
Carmela Calling