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2mo ago

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.

Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona watches a pitching session at the Cincinnati Reds Player Development Complex in Goodyear, Ariz., on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. Mandatory Credit: Sam Greene/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images/File Photo
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A detailed view of the scoreboard showing a pitch call being challenged during the Dodgers-Cubs game on Thursday.
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Overview

  • 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.