All signs point to MLB's automatic ball-strike challenge system coming in 2026
MLB appears ready to add another element of replay review to its game as early as next year.
Rob Manfred said Tuesday he plans to propose a plan to bring the automatic ball-strike system to the majors for 2026, The Athletic reported from MLB headquarters.
A proposal will go to the 11-person competition committee, and it appears likely that it'll have enough votes to get passed, with the league office having enough seats to make it happen, the outlet added.
3 The home plate umpire utilizes an automated ball-strike challenge system, or ABS, during the Dodgers-Cubs spring training game on Feb. 20, 2025.
MLB Photos via Getty Images
ABS has been tested since 2019, first in the independent Atlantic League before coming to the affiliated minor leagues in 2022.
In 2023 and 2024, the Triple-A level used a mix of full ABS — meaning all of the pitches were called by an automatic strike zone — and a challenge system.
This year's spring training had the system in place, allowing a batter, pitcher or catcher to challenge a given pitch, with each team given two challenges per game.
The strike zone was determined by the Hawk-Eye tracking system and depended on a batter's height.
'I think that teams are really positive about ABS,' Manfred said, according to The Athletic. 'You know, I do have that unscientific system that I use — my email traffic — and my distinct impression is that using ABS in spring training has made people more prone to complain about balls and strike calls via email, to me, referencing the need for ABS. That is undoubtedly true, undoubtedly true.'
3 Detailed view of the Jumbotron during an automated ball-strike challenge aka ABS during the Dodgers-Reds spring training game.
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Manfred added that he hopes to make a system that's 'acceptable' to the players and that a check-swing challenge was unlikely to be tested in spring training next year.
MLB first added replay review late in the 2008 season to check home run calls before making significant additions in 2014 that included fair/foul, boundary calls and safe/out calls chief among them.
The strike zone was always seen as the next frontier, and after a spring of testing, scores of fans and pundits have called for the change.
3 The video board displays the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) system during a challenge by the Dodgers in the second inning of a spring training game agains tthe Guardians on March 11, 2025.
Getty Images
There was even one contentious incident over that weekend that centered on a lack of ABS.
On Sunday, Taylor Walls of the Rays was ejected after tapping his helmet — in an apparent nod to an ABS challenge — when he disagreed with a called strike from home plate umpire Nic Lentz, though Walls denied he was referencing the system.
'That's what [Lentz] told me. 'You're not going to do that. You're not going to tap your helmet.' And so at that point, like, I know that they think that's disrespectful,' Walls said after the game. 'I watched the video, and I could see where he may have thought that.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
25 minutes ago
- Washington Post
White Sox beat the Blue Jays 7-1 to end an 8-game losing streak
TORONTO — Luis Robert Jr. hit a two-run homer in Chicago's four-run third inning and the White Sox beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-1 on Friday night to end an eight-game losing streak. Josh Rohas had a two-run double in the third for Chicago. Andrew Benintendi had a solo home run in the first and added an RBI single in the second.
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Brewers' Jacob Misiorowski is perfect through 6 vs. Twins in his 2nd career start
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Jacob Misiorowski throws to the Minnesota Twins in the first inning of a baseball game Friday, June 20, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Jacob Misiorowski throws to the Minnesota Twins in the first inning of a baseball game Friday, June 20, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Jacob Misiorowski throws to the Minnesota Twins in the first inning of a baseball game Friday, June 20, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Jacob Misiorowski throws to the Minnesota Twins in the first inning of a baseball game Friday, June 20, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Jacob Misiorowski throws to the Minnesota Twins in the first inning of a baseball game Friday, June 20, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jacob Misiorowski of the Milwaukee Brewers has a perfect game through six innings Friday against the Minnesota Twins, extending his run of hitless innings to start his big league career to 11. In his second career start, the hard-throwing 6-foot-7 right-hander has struck out six with a fastball regularly reaching triple digits and a slider and changeup in the mid-90s. He's at 80 pitches. Advertisement Misiorowski threw five no-hit innings against St. Louis on June 12, but left in the sixth with cramping in his right calf and quadriceps. The closest Minnesota got to a hit was a sinking liner off the bat of Ryan Jeffers that left fielder Isaac Collins slid to catch the fifth inning. Christian Vazquez it a ball to the warning track in the sixth. At Triple-A Nashville this season, Misiorowski was 4-2 with a 2.13 ERA in 13 appearances, 12 starts. Milwaukee leads Minnesota 3-0. ___ AP MLB:
CBS News
39 minutes ago
- CBS News
DeGrom pitches 6 strong innings, Seager snaps homer drought in Rangers' 6-2 victory over Pirates
Jacob deGrom struck out seven in six strong innings, Corey Seager hit his first home run since May 10 and the Texas Rangers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-2 on Friday night. DeGrom (7-2) retired the first 11 batters and allowed two runs and five hits in six innings with one walk. One day after his 37th birthday, the two-time Cy Young Award winner extended his franchise record to 12 consecutive starts of allowing two runs or fewer and five hits or fewer. After being injured for most of the past four seasons, deGrom is 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA in four June starts. Seager homered with one out in the fifth inning off rookie Mike Burrows (1-2), a drive to right field to increase the Rangers' lead to 4-2. The five-time All-Star shortstop had gone 81 plate appearances without a home run while also being on the injured list from May 11-27 with a strained right hamstring. Burrows lasted 4 2/3 innings and gave up four runs on seven hits. Texas' Adolis Garcia had three hits — including a double and his ninth homer — and two RBIs while making two outstanding diving catches in right field. Marcus Semien went 2 for 5 for the Rangers and extended his hitting streak to 12 games. The Pirates' Joey Bart had three hits. Rangers first baseman Jake Burger left the game in the seventh inning with left-side tightness. Center fielder Wyatt Langford sat out because of back spasms. The Pirates closed to 3-2 with two runs in the fourth inning, but deGrom caught Alexander Canario looking with the bases loaded to end the threat. DeGrom made his 15th start, his most in a season since also starting 15 times for the New York Mets in 2021. Up next On Saturday, rookie RHP Kumar Rocker (2-4, 7.31 ERA) will pitch for the Rangers against RHP Mitch Keller (1-9, 4.08). ___ AP MLB:
