Hoverboard Ump is here and we’re one step closer to robot umpires

Next level umpiring @d3baseball @CentennialConf pic.twitter.com/FXslccmjz0

— JHU Baseball (@JHUBaseball) February 20, 2016

Brace yourselves, baseball traditionalists. If you thought pitch clocks and video replay and rules against catchers blocking the plate were messing with the sanctity of the game, you’re going to want to sit down for this.

An umpire in Division-III college baseball was spotted riding around the field on a hoverboard last weekend during a Johns Hopkins University game. It’s probably not the most efficient way to get around a baseball diamond, honestly, and the ump runs the risk of falling off (or worse, the thing catching on fire) but we applaud his progressive take on his craft. Hoverboard Ump has now surpassed Whip and Nae Nae Ump as the most futuristic umpire in all of baseball. Angel Hernandez, if you’re wondering, ranks last.

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(Sidenote: I’m not going to waste too much time complaining that these new-fangled “hoverboards” don’t actually hover and are really just electronic skateboards. I’m not even good at science and I know rolling isn’t hovering, but I digress).

Like it or not, baseball fans, we’re now a step closer to robot umps. (Or is it another roll closer?) This isn’t the most important part of the job, mind you. We’re still a long way from robots calling balls and strikes, but when umpires — even the ones in college — start letting the so-called hoverboards do their walking for them, just know we’re a step closer to turning into “Base Wars.”

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