Automated Ball-Strike System Eyed for WBC

Automated Ball-Strike System Eyed for WBC Miami, Florida – The World Baseball Classic (WBC) is likely to adopt an Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) system for its next tournament, potentially in 2029, following controversial strike calls during the United States' 2-1 semifinal victory over the Dominican Republic on Sunday at loanDepot Park. Two critical strike-three calls, including one on the final pitch to Geraldo Perdomo, were widely perceived as incorrect, impacting the game's outcome.

Major League Baseball (MLB) is implementing ABS for its regular season and playoffs starting this year, allowing players to challenge umpire calls, which are then reviewed by a camera system. This technology was not utilized in the current WBC, despite being in use during MLB spring training games. The absence of ABS in the WBC led to renewed discussions about its integration into international baseball tournaments.

MLB officials, while not yet formalizing plans for the next WBC, anticipate ABS adoption by then, pending approval from the players' union. Previous MLB technological advancements, such as the pitch clock, have been introduced to the WBC with a delay. The pitch clock, implemented in MLB's 2023 season, is being used in the current WBC, which concludes in Miami with games also held in Houston, San Juan, and Tokyo.