MLB is at a crossroads again, and the man behind the plate is in the center. For years, their sharp observations and expert judgment have supported fair play. Although they’re not always right, this humanizes a classic sport. A technological storm might destroy everything and provide digital accuracy. Whether a cold algorithm can beat decades of human experience matters more than efficiency. One Diamondbacks insider warned that the latest technology is problematic.

The Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS) is a technological wonder that promises to make calling balls and strikes more accurate, with the goal of getting rid of human error. However, when this new idea gets closer to the MLB stage, it causes a lot of debate. Why? It goes against the very nature of a game that has been around for a long time.

Corbin Burnes, the Arizona Diamondbacks’ best pitcher, who signed a six-year contract of $210M, has shared his observations on it. Burnes, who is known for his analytical approach and profound understanding of how the game works, has a point of view that connects old and new ways of doing things. Also, he is a member of the MLB joint competition committee and has firsthand knowledge of the problems that still affect the ABS.

In the latest conversation, the Diamondbacks pitcher said with The Athletic, “There is a margin for error that I think fans don’t realize, that a lot of players didn’t realize.” He went into more detail about the system’s existing problems, saying that the difference between the real pitch position and the ABS’s reading may be as much as half an inch. This margin is not small at all in a game where millimetres can change the outcome.

Burnes isn’t worried about change. He’s concerned about the integrity of the game. Burnes said, “If we can’t get something we feel is 100 percent accurate, why even take the job out of a guy’s hands who has been doing it for 20 years behind the plate?” Make sense, though.

The appeal of ABS is that it promises a game without the occasional mistakes of human umpires, where every pitch is judged with perfect accuracy. For statisticians and IT lovers, it’s a dream come true. But for the players who know every little thing about the game, this change creates big questions. Is it worth losing the soul of the game in the name of perfection?

Can technology really record the complicated dance between the pitcher and the batter, the small hints and quick choices that make baseball what it is? The very question that can only be answered once it comes into action.

The Diamondbacks pitcher might not be having a great feeling about it. But it also received some positive responses from MLB experts.

Pitch perfect? The debate over automated strike calls

As MLB keeps testing the ABS during spring training games, players, coaches, and commentators have all shared their thoughts on how it could affect the sport. People who support the ABS challenge system say it works well and makes umpires more accountable for their calls.

Kyle Goon of the Baltimore Banner said, “just 17 seconds to games and can be called as quickly as reviews in tennis.” It’s good, isn’t it? No more waiting on decisions. Joining him, another expert weighs in.

John Romano of the Tampa Bay Times calls the new idea “quick” and “not too intrusive.” He says it incorporates strategy, collaboration, and taking risks, and it protects against obvious mistakes without taking the human factor out of umpiring.

Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle also says that the technique is quick and works well. Moreover, he said, “Will be well received, and I predict it will be incorporated into the regular season in either 2026 or ’27.” Can we actually see it next season? But there are cross questions too!

But some people in the baseball community are being careful. Terry Francona, the manager of the Reds, has told, “told his big leaguers not to use the experimental rules in spring training. “ He further added, “We’re not using” it (in the regular season), so why work on a strategy we’re not going to use?” 

The MLB is still deciding whether or not to use it. One side is happy with it, but the other side is not so sure. The Diamondbacks pitcher’s most recent observation also brought up a reasonable worry.