Marketplace All-in-One MLB brings automated ball-strike tech to the Big Leagues
Mar 30, 2026
Nola Agha, sports management professor and sports tech expert, breaks down MLB's new automated ball-strike system. She explains the camera-based tracking and how the strike zone is precisely defined. They debate fairness versus human drama and the limits of current 2D tech. Nola also discusses how data and feedback will shape future tweaks.
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Camera Defined Strike Zone Calibrated To Player Height
- Major League Baseball uses camera-based tracking to create a digital strike zone calibrated to player height.
- Hawkeye testing set the top at 53.5% and bottom at 27% of a player's height for consistent strike definition.
Fans Are Comfortable With Tracking Technology
- Fans expect technological tracking because it's become ubiquitous across sports and personal devices.
- Nola Agha notes viewers are used to on-screen tracking in golf, tennis, NFL and to personal location tracking.
Objective Calls Bolster Trust In Game Outcomes
- Video replay systems increase perceived fairness and legitimacy of game outcomes.
- Agha argues objective systems give fans and players trust by reducing incorrect officiating decisions remembered for years.