Robot referee 'S zone left and right expanded

 KBO has finalized detailed operating regulations for the Automatic Pitching System (ABS) and Pitch Clock (pilot operation).

In order to minimize controversy over ball-strike decisions and strengthen the fairness of league operations, the KBO has finalized the ABS strike zone setting standards and detailed operating regulations to be introduced in the KBO league starting in 2024.

For the past four years, ABS has been piloted in the Futures League and improvements have been made by reflecting the opinions of players and referees. In addition, in preparation for the introduction of ABS in the KBO league, the final plan was finalized through continuous discussions through each team's manager's meeting, operation team leader's meeting, and executive committee, as well as expert advisory meetings, surveys of players who have experienced ABS, and data sharing and discussion with the MLB Secretariat. prepared.

The left and right standard for ABS to be applied in the 2024 season is applied by expanding both sides of the home plate by 2cm. This setting is designed to minimize on-site trial and error due to rapid changes in the zone, in response to the phenomenon of increased walks due to ABS' accurate determination of the strike zone in the rules, and to match the existing strike zone recognized by the umpires and players as much as possible. This is an adjustment to implement similar zones. When the MLB Secretariat operated ABS in the minor leagues, it referred to cases where the system was expanded by 2.5 cm on both sides.

The upper and lower height standards require that the ball pass through both the middle and end surfaces of home plate to be considered a strike. A strike is determined based on whether the catcher meets and passes the left, right, and top and bottom criteria, regardless of the catcher's catch position or method.

The height of the top and bottom is applied based on the ratio of each player's height. The upper standard is 56.35% of the player's height, and the lower standard is 27.64% of the player's height. This ratio was based on the average top-to-bottom ratio of the existing umpire's strike zone.

The enforcement regulations for the introduction of the pitch clock were also confirmed. In order to apply the pitch clock regulations appropriate for the league, the KBO analyzed detailed indicators, including a survey of the average pitching intervals of pitchers in the KBO league last year, and finalized the KBO pitch clock regulations.

In the KBO League, as a pilot operation in the first half of the year, sanctions such as balls and strikes for violations are not applied, but warnings are given. Additionally, regulations that limit departure from the pitching board, such as restrictions on checks, do not apply. In the Futures League, the full rules apply.

The time limit between pitches is 18 seconds when there is no runner on base and 23 seconds when there is a runner on base. MLB uses 15 and 20 seconds, respectively. Between batters and batters (between at-bats), pitches must be made within 30 seconds. The catcher must remain in the catcher's box until 9 seconds remain on the pitch clock, and the batter must be ready to hit until 8 seconds remain. If this is violated, a ball is issued to the defensive side and a strike is declared to the offensive side.

To prevent evasion of the pitch clock rule, the number of batters' times is limited to once per at-bat, and the 'pitch clock departure limit rule' is applied to the fielding team. This includes attempts to check, pretending to throw a check, and taking one's foot off the pitching board when there is a runner on base. The defense team's request for time, the catcher's departure from the catcher's box outside of the allowed time, and the pitcher's request to replace the ball are also considered departures from the pitching board.

A maximum of three departures from the pitching board are allowed per at-bat, and a balk is declared on the fourth departure. However, if an out is recorded due to the fourth pitch leaving the board or a runner advances, a balk is not declared. The accumulated number of pitch departures is reset when a runner advances to another base.

The KBO said, "As the implementation rules for ABS and pitch clock are confirmed, we plan to stabilize the system so that the new system can be stably established, and distribute information materials and hold briefing sessions to help players quickly adapt."

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