MLB: ABS Revolutionizes Baseball in 2026 with Ball and Strike Challenges

MLB Introduces Automated Ball-Strike System in 2026

The 2026 season will mark a before and after in baseball with the implementation of the Automated Ball and Strike System (ABS). This technology, tested in minor leagues and pre-seasons, will seek to balance technological precision with the tradition of human arbitration. The official debut of the ABS will take place in the first game of the season, with the match between the San Francisco Giants and the New York Yankees, a game that will be broadcast on Netflix.

System Operation

The ABS uses advanced technology to track the location of each pitch in relation to the batter’s personalized strike zone. If a player disagrees with the umpire’s decision, they can challenge it immediately. The review, which in previous tests lasted an average of 13.8 seconds, will show the result on the stadium screens and on the television broadcast.

Key Rules and Challenges

Each team will start the game with two challenges. If the game goes into extra innings, teams that do not have available challenges will receive an additional one. Challenges can only be requested by the batter, the pitcher, or the catcher, immediately after the pitch. If the review confirms the original decision, the team loses the challenge. If the decision is reversed, the team keeps the challenge.

Implementation and Scope

The system will be available in all MLB stadiums, except for special games at alternate venues without the necessary infrastructure. It will also be used in the postseason.

Impact on the Game

The tests indicate that the system does not alter the pace or the number of throws per turn. Surveys of fans showed that 72% perceived the system as an improvement in their experience and 69% supported its permanent adoption.

Challenge Format and Technology

The challenge format was chosen after evaluations in minor leagues, where players, managers, and fans preferred it to the fully automated system. The ABS strike zone adjusts to each player’s height, and the system measures the pitch in relation to the center of the plate.

Technical failures are rare: in more than 88,000 launches analyzed during testing, only four could not be processed.

Transparency and Control

The stadiums will display on the scoreboard the number of remaining challenges per team. The league implemented delays in data transmission and video monitoring to prevent any attempt at undue advantage. The challenge statistics will be officially recorded and available for analysis, allowing the evaluation of the players’ effectiveness when challenging decisions.