MLB Approves ABS Challenge System for 2026

Major League Baseball's 11-member Joint Competition Committee approved use of the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) challenge system across spring training, the regular season and postseason beginning in 2026, following extensive testing in the minors, spring training and the All‑Star Game. Human umpires will remain behind the plate, but pitchers, catchers and batters may initiate two challenges per game (with an extra challenge available in extra innings) by tapping their helmet or cap; successful challenges are retained and reviews are shown on videoboards and broadcasts. The system uses a Hawk‑Eye pose‑tracking camera array that measures batters' heights before games to determine whether a pitch crossed the strike zone, and MLB reported reviews average roughly 13–15 seconds and overturn about 52% of challenged calls, with catchers most successful. MLB said the format balances correcting missed calls while preserving the umpire’s role, the JCC vote had support from six owners and 22 of 30 teams, and the league reached an agreement with the umpires’ union on ABS deployment. Supporters say ABS should reduce blown calls and ejections and improve accuracy for broadcasts and betting markets, while some players and catchers cautioned the technology isn’t perfect and could affect framing value.