Cornell Study Examines MLB's AI Strike Zone System

Researchers analyze the implementation of automated ball-strike technology in professional baseball.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 8:05am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Researchers from Cornell University's Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science have been studying Major League Baseball's implementation of an automated ball-strike (ABS) system that uses AI-powered cameras to track pitches and allow players to challenge umpire calls during games. The study has involved attending spring training games, umpire trainings, and conducting interviews with league officials, umpires, and fans.

Why it matters

The ABS system represents a significant technological change to the game of baseball, which has a long history and culture. Researchers are examining how the introduction of this AI-powered system is influencing the interpretation of rules and creating a consensus-building platform rather than causing division among stakeholders.

The details

The ABS system uses 12 Hawk-Eye cameras in each stadium to monitor the strike zone and has been tested in minor league games for seven seasons. Teams can challenge ball or strike calls, with reviews taking about 15 seconds and results displayed in stadiums and on broadcasts. Implementing the system requires coordination among various stakeholders, and researchers found that it has paradoxically changed the rules in order to be accepted by multiple groups.

  • The ABS system has been tested in minor league games for seven seasons.
  • Researchers have been attending spring training games and umpire trainings in 2026.

The players

Cornell University's Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science

The college where the researchers studying the MLB's ABS system are based.

Waki Kamino

A doctoral student in information science at Cornell University who is part of the research team studying the ABS system.

Malte Jung

An associate professor of information science at Cornell University who is part of the research team studying the ABS system.

Andrea Wen-Yi Wang

A member of the Cornell University research team studying the implementation of the ABS system.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We hear so much about AI influencing political views and fueling polarization, and here's a case of AI being used as a consensus-building platform rather than creating division.”

— Waki Kamino, Doctoral student in information science

“Introducing technology into baseball isn't like bringing a robot into a manufacturing line. You're bringing technology into a game that has a culture and a history, with an audience in the millions.”

— Malte Jung, Associate professor of information science

“Paradoxically, the ABS was brought in to enforce the rules, but it also changed the rules so that it would be accepted by multiple stakeholder groups.”

— Andrea Wen-Yi Wang, Researcher

What’s next

Researchers plan to continue attending spring training games and umpire trainings to further study the implementation and impact of the ABS system in Major League Baseball.

The takeaway

The introduction of AI-powered technology into a sport with deep cultural roots and traditions like baseball requires careful coordination and consideration of how it will impact the game and its stakeholders. The Cornell researchers are providing valuable insights into this process and how the ABS system is being accepted and integrated into the sport.