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The Baltimore Orioles want Major League Baseball to rethink its replay technology. That demand followed a controversial moment against the New York Yankees. Pete Alonso appeared to hit a go-ahead home run Wednesday night. Instead, home plate umpire Ryan Wills ruled the towering drive foul. Replay officials then upheld the call. The decision sparked frustration throughout the Orioles’ dugout. It also raised questions about MLB’s replay system. Baltimore eventually lost the game 5-3 at Camden Yards. The Yankees scored twice in the eighth inning. Those runs broke a 3-3 tie. The controversial seventh-inning call became the game’s defining moment. Alonso and several Orioles believed the ball cleared the foul pole. However, MLB’s replay center could not overturn the original ruling. The replay official could not definitively determine the ball’s location.
Alonso Thought It Was Clearly Fair
Alonso had already hit a home run earlier Wednesday night. His second potential homer came with two outs in the seventh. The game remained tied at three when Alonso faced Brent Headrick. The Orioles slugger launched a towering drive toward left field. Alonso immediately believed he had put Baltimore ahead. He watched the ball’s flight before flipping his bat away. Wills ruled the ball foul instead. Alonso then returned to the plate and continued the at-bat. The Orioles challenged the ruling. However, the replay review did not provide enough evidence. Alonso eventually struck out to end the inning. The score remained tied heading into the eighth. “I think a simple fix is like football,” Alonso said after the game. He suggested using technology similar to cameras used around football goal lines. Alonso also suggested lasers or cameras could track the ball.
Orioles Want Better Technology
Orioles’ manager Craig Albernaz also criticized MLB’s current system. Albernaz pointed toward the technology available to teams inside their dugouts. Players can view ball-tracking data on their iPads. That technology created even more frustration for Baltimore. The Orioles believed their data supported a fair-ball ruling. “It’s 2026,” Albernaz said. He questioned why MLB cannot use similar technology during replay reviews. Albernaz also mentioned teams using artificial intelligence on their iPads. MLB already uses advanced technology for several parts of the game. The league recently expanded its use of technology for balls and strikes. However, foul-pole plays remain more difficult. The league still relies on available camera angles during reviews. In this case, the clearest angle did not provide enough certainty. Alonso said officials told him two camera angles were necessary. The problem involved the ball’s height as it passed near the foul pole. That made the available angles less conclusive.
Chris Bassitt Joins the Criticism
Orioles starting pitcher Chris Bassitt also expressed frustration after the game. Bassitt called the lack of technology “shocking” for 2026. He believes MLB should have a system that provides a definitive answer. The controversy also changed the game’s momentum. Had officials ruled the ball a home run, Baltimore would have taken a 5-3 lead. Instead, Alonso struck out and the Yankees stayed within reach. New York then produced two runs in the eighth inning. George Lombard Jr. delivered the key hit with the bases loaded. The Yankees added another run on a wild pitch. They eventually secured a 5-3 victory. Therefore, the replay controversy carried real consequences for Baltimore.
MLB Faces a Technology Question
The Orioles’ complaints raise a larger question for baseball. MLB continues adding technology to improve officiating. Yet one of the game’s biggest scoring decisions still lacks definitive tracking. A foul-pole call can decide a game in seconds. Modern technology could potentially remove much of that uncertainty. Alonso’s proposal offers one possible solution. A camera or laser could track the ball’s exact path. Football already uses technology to determine difficult goal-line decisions. Baseball could develop a similar system around foul pole. Still, MLB would need to determine the best approach. The league would also need to consider installation costs and reliability.
For now, teams must rely on existing replay angles. That limitation frustrated Baltimore on Wednesday. The Orioles cannot change the 5-3 result. They also cannot change the replay ruling. However, they can push MLB toward a different future. Alonso’s disputed home run may ultimately become another argument for better technology. If baseball wants fewer controversial calls, this situation provides a clear example. For Baltimore, though, the issue remains much more immediate. The Orioles wanted a home run. Instead, they got a foul ball, a strikeout, and another loss to the Yankees.
Author Profile
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Bradley Walker (VP) and Head of our Florida operations for NGSC Sports, bringing extensive experience across collegiate, professional, and amateur athletics. His coverage spans USF Athletics, including football, baseball, lacrosse, and softball, as well as University of Tampa baseball.
Bradley also provides coverage of minor league baseball with the Clearwater Threshers and Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. On the national stage, he covers college football bowl games and conference championship matchups, along with premier golf events across the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and LPGA Tour.
In addition to his reporting work, Bradley is the play-by-play announcer for Pinellas Park High School Patriots football, lending his voice and insight to Friday night lights.
He is also an active podcast host and contributor, serving as a host on The Walker Report, where he delivers in-depth sports analysis, interviews, and coverage across multiple levels of competition.
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