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05/04 18:57 CDT NCAA rules committee approves robot ump for challenging balls
and strikes in SEC Tournament
NCAA rules committee approves robot ump for challenging balls and strikes in
SEC Tournament
By The Associated Press
The robot umpire is coming to college baseball, at least on an experimental
basis.
The NCAA Baseball Rules Committee on Monday approved the Southeastern
Conference's request to implement a challenge system for balls and strikes for
each game of the 2026 SEC Tournament. It will be similar to the system used in
Major League Baseball.
Teams can challenge an umpire's strike or ball call via an automated ball
tracking system that monitors the exact location of each pitch, relative to the
specific batter's zone.
"The introduction of this challenge system at the SEC Tournament reflects our
continued commitment to innovation," Commissioner Greg Sankey said. "This
addition represents a continued step forward for our game, aligns more closely
with the professional level and supports the development of our
student-athletes as they prepare for success at the next level."
Each team will have three challenges to start the game. If a challenge is
successful, the team will retain the challenge. If the original call is
confirmed, the team will lose the challenge.
Upon a challenge, the pitch location will be compared against the electronic
strike zone. The result will then be displayed on the stadium videoboard and
broadcast.
The SEC baseball tournament will be played May 19-24 in Hoover, Alabama.
The Automatic Ball-Strike system would be allowed for other conference
tournaments if a conference wanted to use it and followed the same protocols as
the SEC.
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AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports
