MLB Tests Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System in Spring Training

The system allows pitchers, catchers, and hitters to challenge umpire calls in real-time using Hawk-Eye technology, with mixed reactions from players and coaches.

The automated ball-strike (ABS) challenge system is being trialed during select MLB spring training games, using Hawk-Eye cameras to track pitches and display results instantly.
Under the system, players can challenge umpire calls on balls and strikes by signaling within two seconds, with each team allotted two challenges per game, retaining successful ones.
Players and staff expressed varying opinions, with some appreciating the consistency of the strike zone and accountability for umpires, while others voiced concerns about diminishing the human element of the game.
The technology has been tested in minor leagues, where players and fans showed a preference for the challenge system over full automation, citing its balance between precision and tradition.
The system introduces new strategic dynamics, as teams must decide when to use challenges wisely during games, with potential implications for both hitters and pitchers.