In the midst of its second year of implementation, the new and unprecedented rule changes enacted by MLB have proven to be a net positive. However, the league does not seem to be content with their victories so far and are continuing to explore other avenues that they feel will help the long-term health and growth of the sport.
More changes could be coming as soon as 2026 with MLB looking to shakeup how balls and strikes will be determined in the future. The league has been experimenting with an electronic strike zone component for the remainder of the Triple-A season.
If everything goes according to plan, the automated ball-strike (ABS) challenge system could see a test run during 2025 Spring Training, which would will determine the system’s viability at the Major League level going forward.
In addition to a change in how umpiring works, MLB is also hoping to address the diminishing importance of starting pitchers in this day and age with a series of regulations that must be followed. MLB is very much still in the brainstorming phase, but there are currently a couple different routes for them to go down, according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN:
The league has discussed a limit to the size of pitching staffs and the double-hook DH, according to sources familiar with the discussion.
There is also a slightly more extreme option that the league is entertaining by imposing a minimum requirement for starting pitchers to go at least six innings:
There is some belief around the game, however, that one idea could be a panacea: requiring starting pitchers to go at least six innings every time they take the mound.
It would be a radical change to the way the game is played, which is why logical exceptions will be made if specific criteria is met.
Some instances when a starter would be allowed to leave early might include: He throws 100 pitches, He gives up four or more earned runs, He gets injured (with a required injured list stint to avoid manipulation)
Limiting the amount of pitchers a team can carry is pretty straightforward, but the double-hook designated hitter was a concept that MLB previously experimented with and entails a team forfeiting the DH spot in their lineup if they remove a starter from the game before he reaches a certain innings threshold.
It is worth keeping in mind that any potential rule change in regard to starting pitchers would require years of testing before MLB considers implementing it at the Major League level. As it stands right now, the league is in the extremely early stages of the process.
What to know about MLB possibly testing ABS Challenge System
While it is far from a sure thing, MLB is hoping that it will be able to test out their new ABS challenge system next season exclusively during Spring Training. In a ABS challenge system, the hitter or catcher can challenge any call made by the human umpire and the correct call according to ABS would be told to them.
It was ultimately chosen over a full ABS system, which has full control over balls and strikes, largely due to player feedback in the Minors.
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