Journal of Innovations

Vol. 3, Issue 1

Pitch Perfect: Leveraging Technology to Enhance Umpiring Accuracy in Baseball

AUTHOR(S)

Emily Freeman

ABSTRACT

This paper argues for the implementation of technology to assist umpires in Major League Baseball (MLB) in order to reduce errors, biases, and unfair outcomes. Despite the tradition of human officiating, umpire mistakes, such as incorrect ball and strike calls, have been a persistent issue throughout baseball’s history. Data from MLB’s 2018 season reveals that umpires made over 34,000 incorrect calls, with potentially game-changing consequences. Additionally, studies have shown that umpires may exhibit unconscious racial biases when calling pitches. The introduction of technologies like TrackMan, which tracks pitches in real-time, and PitchCom, which prevents sign stealing, can improve the accuracy and fairness of calls, helping to eliminate human error and bias. While some may argue that technology undermines the sport’s traditional appeal, this paper contends that it can enhance the integrity of the game, making it more enjoyable for both players and fans. Fans interviewed about this topic overwhelmingly were pro-technological assistance for umpires because of the countless mistakes they have witnessed. By reducing mistakes and ensuring unbiased officiating, technology has the potential to significantly improve baseball's competitive fairness. 

DOI

https://doi.org/10.62470/5a250589 

CITE THIS ARTICLE 

Freeman, E. (2025). Pitch Perfect: Leveraging Technology to Enhance Umpiring Accuracy in Baseball. Journal of Innovations, 3(1), 63-75. DOI: https://doi.org/10.62470/5a250589