MLB’s Robot Umpires: How Automation Could Change Baseball Forever
Baseball Enters New Era with Netflix Broadcast, Automated Strike Zone
The 2026 Major League Baseball season begins tonight with a historic first pitch: the New York Yankees versus the San Francisco Giants game will be streamed live on Netflix, marking the first time a live MLB game has been carried by the service. The game, scheduled for 8:05 p.m. ET from Oracle Park in San Francisco, also ushers in a new era for the sport with the debut of an automated balls and strikes (ABS) system, utilizing challenges initiated by players.
The move to stream a live MLB game on Netflix represents a significant shift in how baseball reaches its audience. MLB reached a media rights agreement in November 2025 with Netflix, NBCUniversal, and ESPN, granting exclusive broadcast rights for certain events to each platform. Beyond Opening Night, Netflix will also stream the T-Mobile Home Run Derby on July 13 and a special event game – the MLB Field of Dreams Game between the Phillies and Twins – on August 13. This agreement extends through the 2028 season.
Alongside the change in broadcast distribution, the 2026 season will spot the implementation of the ABS system, a technology that has been tested in the minor leagues for several years. The system allows players – the pitcher, catcher, or batter – to challenge umpire calls on balls and strikes, with challenges limited to two per game. A challenge must be made within two seconds of the pitch.
When a challenge is initiated, a network of 12 high-speed cameras around the stadium tracks the pitch’s trajectory, creating a 3D model against the batter’s individualized strike zone. The verdict is then displayed on the Jumbotron and relayed to the umpire. The system is accurate to within 0.25 inches, capable of tracking pitches exceeding 100 mph, like those thrown by Aroldis Chapman.
Although MLB estimates umpires currently call approximately 94 percent of pitches correctly, the introduction of the ABS system aims to eliminate the most impactful errors. However, the system’s implementation has already begun to subtly influence the behavior of human umpires in the minor leagues, with some reportedly adjusting their calls to align with what they anticipate the machine would call. This trend raises concerns about the potential erosion of human judgment and expertise in the long run.
The shift towards automated officiating mirrors a similar evolution in tennis, where Hawk-Eye technology was introduced in 2006. The US Open eliminated human line judges entirely in 2020, and Wimbledon followed suit in 2025, relying almost exclusively on electronic line calling. The ABS system, some observers suggest, may represent a similar stepping stone towards full automation in baseball.
The introduction of the ABS system, while intended to improve accuracy, presents a complex dynamic. It acknowledges the superiority of machine precision while retaining a human element, but this compromise may not be sustainable. The long-term implications for the role of umpires and the skills valued in the game remain uncertain.