Orioles urge MLB to expand technology after Pete Alonso’s near-homer is ruled foul vs. Yankees

Major League Baseball already relies on technology to help confirm or overturn certain umpire decisions, including balls and strikes. But after Pete Alonso hit what Orioles officials described as a near-homer that was ruled foul in a Yankees game, Baltimore is asking the sport to look at whether a similar approach could be applied around the foul poles, where the margin for error can be razor thin.

The discussion centers on the decision-making framework for batted balls that finish near the line. With home runs and foul balls separated by a few feet, managers and club executives have increasingly questioned whether the existing review tools and camera angles are sufficient, especially in moments where a hit’s end location is all that separates a run from a harmless foul.

In the Yahoo Sports report, Baltimore’s call for expanded technology is framed as practical, not theoretical: if MLB can verify pitch calls using available tracking and officiating systems, the Orioles contend the league should evaluate whether comparable confirmation is possible for batted balls near the foul poles. The underlying point is that decisions in those micro-zones carry heavy consequences, and that additional certainty would reduce postgame debate.

The episode also highlights a broader reality of modern officiating. MLB’s replay and review process is built around rules and constraints, meaning not every close call is automatically adjudicated the same way. Even when video exists, what can be reviewed, and what constitutes “enough to overturn,” depends on the specific type of play and the league’s governing procedures.

Baltimore’s push arrives in a season when clubs have little patience for marginal accuracy gaps in high-leverage moments. If MLB were to expand the use of technology for foul-pole calls, it would not only change how often the crowd hears the final decision confirmed, but also how managers prepare for potential disputes and how fans interpret whether the right outcome is being reached.

For now, the key takeaway is that the Orioles are using a single, pointed moment as the argument for a bigger fix, placing the burden on MLB to reassess what kinds of calls deserve the same level of automated support as balls and strikes. The league’s next step, if any, will likely come through internal review and offseason conversations rather than an immediate adjustment tied to one game.

What to watch next is whether MLB leadership publicly addresses the proposal and whether other clubs add their voices. If the foul-pole issue continues to produce public disagreement, it could become one of the more prominent officiating questions driving policy discussions in the near term.