NEWSLETTER
It’s clear that Major League Baseball needs to move to an automated balls-and-strikes system, and it’s also clear that it will happen at some point. Unfortunately, it sounds like that system will not arrive in 2025.
A report by the Associated Press this afternoon says that MLB commissioner Rob Mandred noted today that there has not been as much progress in the minor league this year as MLB had hoped.
The Automated Ball-Strike Zone (ABS) was implemented in the Triple-A and Low-A Florida State League at the start of this season. Here’s how it works:
The ABS will call all pitches. After hearing it in their earpiece, the home plate umpire will relay the call. The ABS challenge system is in effect for Friday through Sunday games. The home plate umpire will call pitches, but the batter, pitcher, or catcher can appeal their strike call. The ABS will then rule on whether the call stands or is overturned. Each team gets three unsuccessful challenges per game. Successful challenges do not count toward that total. All challenges must be made within two seconds of the call.
MLB is providing teams in these games with an iPad that will show the tracked location of each pitch with a few seconds’ delay. The league is asking the teams to flag pitches that they believe are questionable calls. This information could help lead to further tweaks to the strike zone used in ABS games.
At this point, 2025 seems unlikely, and 2026 might even be a stretch, given the lack of progress made in the minors with the testing of the new system. Bummer.
MLB Announces World Baseball Classic Sites
Today, Rob Manfred said that Houston, Miami, San Juan, and Tokyo will be the 2026 World Baseball Classic sites.
The 2026 tournament will feature the return of the Tokyo Dome in Japan and loanDepot Park in Miami as host venues. Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico, will also make a comeback for the first time since 2013, while Houston’s Minute Maid Park will be hosting the tournament for the first time.
“We are excited and honored to be hosting World Baseball Classic matchups for the first time,” Astros owner and chairman Jim Crane said. “Houston is a global city with the best baseball fans, and we are proud to welcome fans from across the globe to watch international competition at Minute Maid Park.”
The first-round pools will be split across the four locations, while the semifinals will be split between Houston and Miami. The final will once again take place at LoanDepot Park.
Manfred Says Nike Took Responsibility for the Uniform Issues
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred also said today that Nike “appropriately took responsibility” for the issues related to its new uniforms, which had drawn public criticism.
As a result, the league and the company announced several significant changes earlier this month. Manfred also mentioned that MLB owners had met with Nike, the league’s official uniform supplier, at an owner’s meeting in New York this week.
“Let me say it this way: I think they appropriately took responsibility for the issues concerning the new uniforms and the rollout of those uniforms,” Manfred said during a press conference.
MLB and Nike have confirmed changes to the Nike Vapor Premier uniforms following backlash from players and fans. The issues included inconsistent colors and pant seam failures. Changes noted in an MLBPA memo include larger name-on-back lettering and full pant customization for players by the start of the 2025 season. Nike is also working to address color differences and sweat stains on gray jerseys, with adjusted uniforms expected to be available as soon as the second half of this season.
