Major League Baseball’s ABS Controversy: Is It a Welcome Change?
Updated Jul. 10, 2025, 5:42 p.m. ET
NEW YORK — The introduction of robot umpires is on the horizon for Major League Baseball (MLB), and at least one player has strong feelings about the implementation of this technology. “They’re going to do whatever they want,” said New York Yankees closer Devin Williams on Wednesday, referring to the league’s decisions.
After using the automated balls and strikes (ABS) system in spring training games earlier this year, MLB officials are set to feature it in next week’s All-Star Game, according to an ESPN report. This move is seen as a step towards permanently integrating robot umpires into the major leagues as early as next year.
In the upcoming Midsummer Classic, players will not experience a fully automated strike zone but will receive a limited number of challenges they can retain if successful. Only the pitcher, hitter, or catcher can call for a challenge by tapping their hat or helmet, with no assistance allowed from the dugout or other players on the field.
“It’s good and bad,” Williams said of the ABS system. “Everything has its pros and cons. I think hitters won’t like it as much as they think they do because, if you watch any game, how many balls nick the zone? Or how many pitches actually hit the zone, but are caught poorly or miss location? 8k8+com+login That’s often called a ball, when in reality, it’s a strike. There are plenty of those types of pitches.”
Williams illustrated his point with a hypothetical scenario where he throws a pitch that barely nicked the zone. ph365 pph365.com login Instead of the count being 2-2, he could challenge the pitch if it was misframed by the catcher, leading to the ABS confirming it was actually a strike. “And then the hitter is upset,” he added. “Because that’s not how we play the game phcity app cc. It’s all about presentation. If it’s a true strike zone, I don’t think hitters are going to like it as much as they believe they will. Just look at what just happened.”
Williams noted an example from a recent Dodgers-Brewers game displayed on the television screens in the Yankees’ clubhouse. “The pitcher just walked a batter even though he threw a strike and hit his spot,” Williams remarked. “I watched the run the Dodgers scored, and then Shohei Ohtani was walked with the bases loaded in the fifth inning. Two of the four balls technically hit the zone but weren’t called strikes.”
While Williams, as a pitcher, contends that hitters may not gain as much from the ABS system as it could benefit pitchers, he still emphasizes the need for the league to consider all player opinions before adopting new protocols. He expressed skepticism about whether player feedback truly impacts decisions on new processes like robot umpires or the pitch clock.
“They’re going to do whatever they want,” Williams reiterated. “We don’t have any power. They just proceed with their decisions.” He was strongly opposed to the pitch clock when it was first introduced in 2023, and he mentioned that pitchers continue to voice their discontent about it “all the time” even two years later jili22.net app download. He pointed out that despite the reluctance many players expressed, the MLB’s competition committee approved the pitch clock anyway. The committee includes six owners, four players, and one umpire and was formed during the collective bargaining agreement negotiations between MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) in 2022.
“They’re just making changes for the sake of making changes,” Williams stated. “The people who come up with these rules clearly don’t play the game.” He also expressed frustration regarding the votes within the MLBPA. “We have a vote, but they hold the majority,” said Williams. “So they just do whatever they want. I love how the competition committee is presented like we have a say, but they move ahead with their plans regardless. I’m pretty sure players voted against the pitch clock, but the league dismissed it, saying, ‘Oh too bad, we outvoted you. wow jili.com’ Now we have the pitch clock.”
Before heading out to the field to play catch, Williams reiterated that the players’ only choice is to “do whatever they say.”
What are your thoughts on the introduction of robot umpires in baseball?