KBO confirms automatic ball judgment rules... based on the height of the upper and lower batters

KBO has finally decided on ABS strike zone setting standards and detailed operating regulations to be introduced into the KBO league from 2024 to minimize controversy over ball-strike decisions and strengthen fairness in league management. KBO has been piloting ABS in the Futures League over the past four years to improve its complementary points by reflecting the opinions of the team and the referee. In addition, in preparation for the introduction of ABS into the KBO League, the final draft was prepared through continuous discussions with each team's supervisory meeting, operation team team meeting and executive committee, expert advisory meeting, team survey that experienced ABS, and data sharing and discussion with MLB secretariat. The left and right standards of ABS, which will be applied in the 2024 season, will be applied by expanding both sides of the home plate by 2cm. This setting is an adjustment to implement a zone as similar as possible to the existing strike zone recognized by the referee and the team in order to minimize trial and error in the field due to the rapid change of the zone, and the U.S. Major League Baseball (MLB) Secretariat expanded the operation by 2.5cm on both sides when operating ABS in the minor league. The upper and lower standards are judged as strikes only when the ball meets the upper and lower height standards and passes at two points on the middle and end of the home plate. Regardless of the catcher's port position and method, strikes are judged based on whether he or she meets the left and right standards and passes. The height of the upper and lower parts is applied based on the ratio of height of each player. The upper standard is 56.35% of the height of the player, and the lower standard is 27.64% of the height of the player. This ratio was based on the average upper and lower ratio of the existing referee strike zone. It also confirmed detailed enforcement regulations following the introduction of pitch clock. In order to apply the pitch clock rule suitable for the league, the KBO finalized the KBO pitch clock rule by analyzing detailed indicators such as a survey of average pitching intervals of KBO league pitchers last year. In the KBO League, warnings are issued according to the pilot operation in the first half of the year without applying sanctions such as balls and strikes for violations. In addition, restrictions on departure from the pitch board, such as restriction on checks, do not apply. In the Futures League, the entire rule applies. The time limit between pitches is applied to 18 seconds when the runner is not on the base and 23 seconds (15 seconds, 20 seconds based on MLB). Between the batter and the batter (between at-bats), the catcher should be positioned in the forward position by the time when the remaining time of the pitch clock is 9 seconds left, and the batter should be ready for batting by the time when there are 8 seconds left. If this is violated, a ball will be declared on the defense side and a strike will be declared on the offensive side. To prevent avoiding the application of the pitch clock rule, the number of times a batter's time is limited to one per at-bat, and the "restriction on the departure of the pitch board" is applied to the defense team. These include attempting to check, pretending to throw a check ball, and removing a foot from the pitch board when there is a runner, and other requests for time by the defense team, catcher's departure from the lead position outside the permitted time, and pitcher's request to replace the ball are also considered as departure from the pitch board. The departure of the pitching board is allowed up to three times per at-bat, and a balk is declared when the fourth departure is made. However, a balk is not declared if an out is recorded due to the fourth departure of the pitching board or if the runner advances to the base. The accumulated number of departure from the pitching board is initialized when one runner advances to the other base. KBO plans to stabilize the system so that the new system can settle stably as the enforcement rules of ABS and pitch clock are finalized, and distribute information and hold briefing sessions for quick adaptation of the team.