The ABS Challenge System: coming to MLB in 2026

The ABS Challenge System is coming to Major League Baseball in 2026. As a fan who appreciates both tradition and innovation, I believe it's a step in the right direction.

This isn't just a rule change; it's a philosophical shift that promises to improve the sport without sacrificing the "human element" that makes baseball so compelling.

For years, we've watched MLB test the waters with the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) system in minor league ballparks. This extensive testing, including its recent use in MLB Spring Training and the All-Star Game, has provided invaluable data. The verdict is clear: this is a positive development for the game. The Joint Competition Committee's vote to implement the challenge system, powered by T-Mobile, is a direct result of this success.

The beauty of the system is that it strikes a perfect balance. It’s not the full "robot ump" that calls every single pitch, which many of us—myself included—feel would strip away a core part of the game's identity.

We’ve grown up with the ebb and flow of a human umpire's strike zone, and while that has led to some frustrating moments, it's also part of the drama.

The challenge system preserves that dynamic while providing a much-needed failsafe for the most egregious calls. As someone who has watched countless games where a clearly blown call at a critical moment has left a team, a player, or the fans fuming, this feels like the solution we've all been waiting for.

This system would have been a game-changer for players like Wyatt Langford, who have notoriously been on the wrong end of some questionable strike calls.

In my opinion, the pros of this system—getting the call right—far outweigh the cons. The time it adds to the game is minimal, an average of only 13.8 seconds per challenge during Spring Training.

That's a small price to pay for accuracy, especially in a sport that has already embraced changes like the pitch clock to speed up the action. It's a minor interruption for a major improvement.

Here’s how the system, using Hawk-Eye technology, will work and why it’s a brilliant compromise:

The Nuts and Bolts of the ABS Challenge System

• Two Challenges Per Team: Each team starts with two challenges. This limited number adds a layer of strategy to the game. Players and managers must decide when to use their challenges, saving them for high-leverage situations. It’s a new element of baseball strategy that I find exciting.
• Extra Innings, Extra Chances: If a game goes into extras, teams that are out of challenges will get one more in the 10th inning and in each subsequent inning if they exhaust the prior one. This aligns with a growing acceptance of rule changes to improve the late-game experience. I've personally grown accustomed to the ghost runner in extras and enjoy how it creates instant drama and helps prevent marathon games that are a physical drain on players and don't keep fans engaged.
• Universal Implementation: The system will be in use for every regular-season and postseason game, ensuring consistency across the league and removing the need for location-specific rules.
• Who Challenges?: Only the batter, pitcher, or catcher can issue a challenge, simply by tapping their cap. This keeps the focus on the players on the field and avoids a manager-centric, delay-filled process.
• Instant Overturn: When a call is challenged, the Hawk-Eye view is broadcast almost immediately on the videoboard and to home viewers. This transparency is key. The call is either confirmed or overturned, and the game quickly resumes.
• Retaining Successful Challenges: A team only loses a challenge if the umpire's call is confirmed. This rewards a good eye and encourages teams to use their challenges wisely.

The data from minor league testing, particularly in leagues like the Triple-A, shows a clear preference for the Challenge System over a full ABS system. Fans, players, and personnel overwhelmingly agreed that the challenge system is the right move.

The full "robot ump" system, while accurate, led to more walks and longer games, and would have completely eliminated the art of pitch framing for catchers—a craft that players understandably want to preserve.

The Challenge System is the perfect middle ground, getting the most important calls right without fundamentally altering the sport.

In a sport that is constantly evolving to improve its product, the ABS Challenge System feels like a home run. It honors the traditions of the game while embracing a technology that will eliminate some of the most frustrating aspects of the fan experience.

The human element remains, but with a safety net that ensures justice is served on the field. This is how you grow and improve the game, and I'm all for it.