Major League Baseball will use robot umpires in 2026

FILE - An outfield screen shows a graphic indicating Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodriguez challenged a pitch call, initiating a review with the automated ball-strike challenge system, in the third inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks during a spring training baseball game Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, in Peoria, Ariz.NEW YORK (AP) — Robot umpires are getting called up to the big leagues next season.

Major League Baseball’s 11-man competition committee on Tuesday approved use of the Automated Ball/Strike System in the major leagues in 2026.

Human plate umpires will still call balls and strikes, but teams can challenge two calls per game and get additional appeals in extra innings. Challenges must be…