Around the League

Automated Ball-Strike System Nominated for SportTechie Award

Atlantic League debuted electronic strike zone during 2019 Championship Season
 

(Lancaster, Pa., Dec. 17, 2019) – The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB) has been included among the nominees for the annual SportTechie Awards, it was announced on Monday.

In the category of Outstanding Innovation, the Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS) is one of five nominees for an award. Following is a description from SportTechie regarding the nomination:

“Historically, few decisions in sports have been as hotly contested as umpires’ ball and strike calls. Baseball’s rulebook may define one strike zone, but each umpire personalizes it to the point that reputations spread across leagues and tendencies are analyzed in daily scouting reports…But in 2019 meaningful games were finally played with technology making the final call. MLB developed its Automatic Ball Strike system and implemented it first in the independent Atlantic League (with whom MLB has a testing partnership) and then in the Arizona Fall League, the first such games with players from MLB organizations using the so-called “robo ump.” The verdict: pretty good. This first iteration used TrackMan radars and went well enough that commissioner Rob Manfred has pledged a program expansion to some full-season minor league ballparks in 2020.”

The Atlantic League, in conjunction with Major League Baseball, installed TrackMan technology in each ballpark during the 2019 Championship Season. Following extensive testing, the Automated Ball-Strike System was first used to assist the home plate umpire in calling balls and strikes during the Atlantic League All-Star Game at PeoplesBank Park in York, Pa. on July 10. The first use of the ABS during ALPB games came on July 25 in games hosted by the High Point Rockers, Lancaster Barnstormers and Long Island Ducks.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y., requested and received a donation of the earpiece used by home plate umpire Fred DeJesus in the July 25 game between the Ducks and New Britain Bees to represent the first steps of ball-strike technology in baseball. Stated Tom Shieber, Senior Curator at the Hall of Fame, “ALPB’s introduction of ball-strike technology to high level professional baseball is historically significant. Even more fascinating is the prospect that ABS technology may reach the big leagues as a result of the Atlantic League’s partnership with Major League Baseball.”

Additional nominees for the Outstanding Innovation award include Baseball Hitting, Computer Vision, Load Management and Virtual Sports. The winner of the honor will be announced on Thursday, January 2. Other awards being given by SportTechie include Outstanding Team, Outstanding Executive, Outstanding Technology, Outstanding Venue and Outstanding Athlete. To see all the nominees, please CLICK HERE.

About The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)

With eight teams in the Mid-Atlantic and Texas, the ALPB is a leader in baseball innovation and a player gateway to Major League Baseball. Through its exclusive partnership with MLB, the Atlantic League tests Major League Baseball rules and equipment initiatives. The Atlantic League has sent over 950 players to MLB organizations while drawing more than 42 million fans to its affordable, family-friendly ballparks throughout its 22-year history.

For more information, please visit www.atlanticleague.com.
 

###



Search Archive »




Browse by Year »

2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015

Browse by Month »

March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015