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OGDEN — Pioneer League players — including those on the Ogden Raptors — will be able to challenge umpires on balls and strikes this season, expanding on a rule already being tested in some Salt Lake Bees games.
Pioneer Baseball League officials on Monday announced an agreement to remain a Major League Baseball partner league through at least the 2028 season. The move will keep it testing technology and game rules that could be adopted by MLB in the future, such as its new challenge rule.
Under the "strike zone challenge," games will be called by umpires normally but they will be backed up by Automated Balls and Strikes, commonly referred to as ABS or "robo-umps." Each team can challenge the ump's balls and strikes up to six times in a game, unless they reach three unsuccessful challenges first. Only a batter, pitcher and catcher can challenge a pitch.
It's similar to the model used during weekend Pacific Coast League games, while the league has also tested having the computer call balls and strikes during weekday games. The only difference appears to be that the Pioneer League will use a technology created by Trackman, while PCL games have used Hawk-Eye since the 2022 season.
The data will be used to help MLB decide whether to adopt the concept for big league games.
The Pioneer League, which includes the Ogden Raptors, started its MLB partnership beginning with the 2021 season, shortly after MLB took over the Minor League Baseball system and rearranged its organization. The league previously served as the lowest level in the minors and generally featured new players entering the MLB farm system shortly after the league's annual draft before the changes.
Under the new agreement, the Pioneer League has tested other new rules and equipment for real-game use data. The most notable might be a home run derby-like knockout round to bypass extra innings. It's not the only league to use ABS, as the Pacific Coast League — including the Salt Lake Bees — has dabbled in the technology since the 2022 season.
Michael Shapiro, the league's president, said he's excited that the partnership will last through at least five more seasons.
"The extension of this partnership with MLB ensures that not only will more players realize their dreams of playing professional baseball, but it keeps professional baseball as an affordable entertainment option and source of community pride in each of our cities," he said in a statement Monday.
The league's 2024 campaign begins next week. This season also features the debut of the Oakland Ballers and Yolo High Wheelers (Davis, California), as the Pioneer League marches into Golden State for the first time.
