(January 27, 2020) — If “Robo Umps” are going to continue calling balls and strikes, they need to be ready to hear the good and the bad from the fans, just like their human counterparts. And for that, they’re going to need names.

 

That’s the consensus of the York Revolution and the rest of the teams of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB), which announced today they are seeking names for each of their ballparks’ automated ball-strike system (ABS) radar panels.

 

Through the Atlantic League’s partnership with Major League Baseball, the previously nameless panels made history in the 2019 ALPB season by electronically determining balls and strikes and relaying the calls to umpires wearing earpieces.

 

The ABS system at PeoplesBank Park was the first electronic system to call balls and strikes in a professional baseball game, calling a strike on the first pitch of the 2019 ALPB All-Star Game in York last July.

MLB later used the ABS in its Arizona Fall League and announced earlier this year that it will test electronic balls and strikes in spring training games this year.

 

Beginning next Monday, February 3, each of the Atlantic League’s seven home clubs (the league’s eighth 2020 competitor will be the traveling Road Warriors) will invite their local supporters to submit suggestions for names for their ABS radar panels on the teams’ social media channels. The teams will announce the winning names – the newest members of their ballpark communities – on Valentine’s Day, February 14.

 

“What better day to announce the names of something people are clearly very passionate about,” said Atlantic League President Rick White. “Love or hate it, Atlantic League fans have expressed their feelings to that big black box in their home parks. On Valentine’s Day, they’ll be able to put a name to their passions, and we will have fun along the way.”

 

The Atlantic League’s 23rd Championship Season will kick off on Thursday, April 30, when the Sugar Land Skeeters host the York Revolution and the High Point Rockers host the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. The following day, the Long Island Ducks will welcome the Lancaster Barnstormers and the Somerset Patriots will host the Road Warriors.

 

Opening Day for the Revs will be Friday, May 8, when the team welcomes the Road Warriors. Ticket memberships are available here, and individual game tickets will go on sale in the coming weeks.