NPB, ABS+Pitch Clock Operation Status Tour and KBO Media Center Visit

Jun 28, 2024

NPB, ABSPitch Clock Operation Status Tour and KBO Media Center Visit
A referee wearing equipment for the Automatic Pitch Judgment System (ABS). Reporter Jung Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com



Seven NPB executives and two data operators visited Korea over two days from the 26th to the 27th to tour the media center at the KBO Baseball Center along with the status of KBO League ABS and pitch clock operations.

On the 26th, the first day of the visit, I watched the NC-Kium game at Gocheok Sky Dome. KBO demonstrated the terminal worn by the referee and the tablet that can check the pitching trajectory of the pitcher in real time, and allowed them to experience firsthand the time it took until the decision voice was delivered to the referee after the pitch was completed.

NPB showed great interest in listening to explanations about the background and process of introducing ABS, operation manuals, and changes before and after the introduction of the system, which KBO actively promoted, and continued to ask questions in detail.




The impact on the game, changes in various game indicators, and the timing of the official introduction of the pitch clock, which is being piloted in the KBO League, were also closely checked. In addition, they exchanged opinions on the 2026 WBC tournament, which was mentioned at a meeting with MLB Commissioner Manfred in the MLB Seoul Series in March, regarding the review of whether to implement the pitch clock.

NPB, ABSPitch Clock Operation Status Tour and KBO Media Center Visit
A referee wearing equipment for the Automatic Pitch Judgment System (ABS). Reporter Song Jeong-heon songs@sportschosun.com
On the 27th, he visited the KBO Media Center in the KBO Baseball Center and shared the background and operation status of the KBO Media Center, and showed interest in how to use the archive system for KBO and clubs and a future media business roadmap.

Through future exchanges, KBO and NPB promised continuous exchanges and cooperation on ways to expand the base of baseball for the revival of Asian baseball.








This article was translated by Naver AI translator.