(Audacy) As robot umpires have worked their way up to the highest minor league level in 2022, a challenge system will debut at a lower level.
An automated ball-strike system -- widely known as a robo ump -- will be used in Triple-A for the first time this year, among several other rule experiments at the minor league level. The ABS system was used in the Atlantic League in 2019 and at the low-A Southeast and Arizona Fall League last year.
Now, there will also be a new challenge system in low-A Southeast ball in which balls and strikes -- called by a human umpire -- can be appealed a maximum of three times a game per team by the pitcher, catcher and/or batter, according to Hannah Keyser of Yahoo Sports.
Theo Epstein, the former Cubs and Red Sox top executive who has overseen these experimental changes in the minor leagues in recent years, explained why he believes the challenge system could be effective.
“Under the challenge format, home plate umpires still call balls and strikes and get to manage the game the way an automated system cannot,” he told Yahoo Sports. “This could alleviate potential concerns about over-automation and mitigate the potential negative consequences of the inelasticity of a full-time ABS strike zone in certain game situations, such as blowouts.”
In double-A, high-A and low-A, there will be a ban on the shift, requiring two infielders on each side of the bag.
Among other changes at all minor league levels is the expansion of the base size from 15 to 18 square inches and implementation of a pitch clock. The pitch clock will last 14 seconds with the bases empty and 19 seconds with runners on base at the Triple-A level, while it will be 18 seconds with runners on in all other lower levels.
There will also only be a limit of two pickoff attempts at all levels.
Some of these changes could be coming to the big leagues in 2023. The new collective bargaining agreement allows for a competition committee to enact changes within a 45-day window of notice.
The bigger bases, pitch clock and defensive shift bans are reportedly expected to reach MLB next season.
LISTEN on the Audacy app
Sign up and follow Audacy Sports
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram