The Major League Baseball (MLB) has approved the Automated Balls/Strikes (ABS) Challenge System for the 2026 season, marking the first time in MLB history that ball and strike calls can be challenged using technology. The system allows teams to request a fast review of critical calls during games and was implemented after a vote by the Joint Competition Committee.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred made the announcement, emphasizing that the change aimed to create momentum for the game by listening to fans, conducting extensive testing at the Minor League level, and working on deploying the system in a way that was acceptable to players. He noted the strong preference from players for the Challenge format over using the technology to call every pitch was a key factor in determining the system.
The system is not a complete takeover by robotic umpires, as regular umpires will still be present to call balls and strikes. Instead, it serves as a middle ground, allowing teams to request a fast review of very important ball-strike calls during a game. The system runs on a 5G private network from T-Mobile for Business’ Advanced Network Solutions, and the league’s Hawk-Eye technology will monitor pitch locations throughout the game relative to the batter’s strike zone.
When a call is challenged, the Hawk-Eye view will be transmitted through the 5G network and shown almost instantaneously to spectators at each stadium via the videoboard as well as home viewers on respective broadcasts. During spring training in 2025, the system was used in 288 games, with an average of 4.1 challenges per game that took an average of 13.8 seconds to get the call right before resuming play. Players tapped their cap or helmet on 2.6% of all called pitches, with an overturn rate of 52.2%.
Technology continues to change sports as it becomes more advanced, and the implementation of this challenge system will be a significant change for the game, with both fans and players looking to see how it impacts the sport in the upcoming season.