MLB Tests Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System During Spring Training

The experimental system allows players to challenge umpire calls on balls and strikes, with potential implementation in regular-season games as early as 2026.

The Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS) is being trialed in 13 spring training ballparks, covering 60% of games, after years of testing in the minor leagues.
Players, including pitchers, batters, and catchers, can challenge ball-strike calls within two seconds of a pitch, with each team allotted two challenges per game.
The first use of the system occurred during a Cubs-Dodgers game, where a successful challenge overturned an umpire's call, showcasing the system's functionality.
While some players and managers appreciate the system's potential for accuracy, others, including Yu Darvish, have raised concerns about its consistency and impact on the game's human element.
The system is not expected to be used in the 2025 regular season, but MLB is gathering player and team feedback to refine the technology for possible adoption in 2026.