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Starting Thursday, the Atlantic league will use the Automated Ball-Strike System for the remainder of the 2019 season.

Atlantic League makes ball-strike 'robot umpires' a permanent fixture

The independent Atlantic League will use the Automated Ball-Strike system for the remainder of the 2019 season, making it the first professional league to use technology to help monitor balls and strikes.

Home plate umpires will have ABS assistance after it was deemed successful during the league's All-Star Game earlier this month.

“This is a landmark day for the Atlantic League and professional baseball,” league president Rick White said in a statement. “After successfully unveiling the ABS at our All-Star Game in York, Pennsylvania, and following positive feedback from managers, players, umpires and fans, we are eager to implement the consistent strike zone accuracy offered by ABS technology.”

Games hosted by the High Point Rockers, Lancaster Barnstormers and Long Island Ducks on Thursday will be the first to implement the technology.

According to the release, ABS technology "utilizes radar technology to provide a reliable, precise, 'rule-book' strike zone for pitchers and hitters." The umpires are expected to monitor a player's swing to determine a strike and other judgment calls.

The use of technology in the Atlantic League is part of a three-year partnership between the league and MLB, where the Atlantic League will test the ABS to determine if it's something that could be used in the majors.

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