Baseball's RoboUmps Bring Unexpected Entertainment

The new automated ball-strike system in MLB is creating viral moments that showcase the human element of the game.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 5:25pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a fragmented baseball game, with the players, umpire, and field broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in a vibrant color palette, conveying the energy and strategy of the new automated strike zone technology.The new automated ball-strike system in MLB has exposed the human drama and strategy behind every pitch, creating unexpected entertainment for baseball fans.Kansas City Today

Major League Baseball's new automated ball-strike system, known as ABS, has been a surprisingly entertaining addition to the game in its debut season. While the system has mostly integrated seamlessly, it has also produced a number of memorable moments that have captivated fans online. From umpires getting overruled multiple times in a single game to players successfully challenging consecutive pitches, the human reactions to the robotic umpires have provided unexpected drama and humor.

Why it matters

The introduction of ABS represents a major technological shift in baseball, abandoning centuries of reliance on the human eye to call balls and strikes. While the system aims to provide perfect accuracy, the human element has not been eliminated, leading to entertaining instances of players, managers, and umpires reacting to the new automated calls.

The details

Through the first 62 games of the 2026 season, there have been 227 challenges to the ABS system, averaging 3.7 per game. Most have been routine corrections, but a handful have gone viral online. Umpire CB Bucknor had six calls overturned in a single game, while Reds player Eugenio Suárez successfully challenged two consecutive pitches in a high-leverage situation. Twins manager Derek Shelton even got ejected for arguing with an umpire who had tried to rule in his team's favor, only to have the call reversed by the ABS.

  • Through the first 62 games of the 2026 MLB season
  • In the first series of the 2026 season

The players

CB Bucknor

An MLB umpire who had six calls overturned by the ABS system in a single game, leading to an ignominious introduction to the new technology.

Eugenio Suárez

A Cincinnati Reds player who successfully challenged two consecutive pitches in a pressure-filled, bases-loaded situation, drawing loud cheers from the crowd.

Derek Shelton

The manager of the Minnesota Twins who got ejected for arguing with an umpire who had tried to rule in his team's favor, only to have the call reversed by the ABS.

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What they’re saying

“The loudest cheers of the game – the Reds have hit two homers – come on back-to-back challenges.”

— John Sadak, Cincinnati Reds play-by-play broadcaster

“He's arguing with the robots! You can't defeat the robots!”

— Kevin Brown, Orioles broadcaster

What’s next

As the MLB season unfolds, teams and players will continue to adapt to the new ABS system, developing strategies for challenging calls and learning the strengths and weaknesses of the technology.

The takeaway

While the ABS system aims to bring perfect accuracy to ball-strike calls, the human reactions and drama it has created have made it an unexpectedly entertaining addition to the game. Baseball fans are now closely watching each pitch, analyzing the situational leverage, and comparing their own eyes to the robotic umpires.