Major League Baseball announced the Automated Ball Strike (ABS) Challenge System will be implemented on a full-time basis, beginning with the 2026 regular season.
It represents the biggest addition to the sport since multiple changes were put in place at the start of 2023, including the pitch timer, larger bases and restrictions on defensive shifts.
The ABS Challenge System was exclusively used in the Minor Leagues up until this season, when MLB experimented with it during select Spring Training contests and the 2025 MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park.
The rule change comes after a vote by the joint competition committee. Furthermore, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, 23 of the 30 teams are in favor of the ABS Challenge System:
There were 23 teams in favor of the ABS Challenge system and 7 opposed.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) September 23, 2025
Several players were unsure what to think of the ABS Challenge System when they first got to see it in action, but most believe it will be a good addition to the sport.
Although there is going to be the use of technology, the Automated Ball Strike system is not a complete shift to proverbial “robot umps” as the home-plate umpire is still in place and responsible for calling balls and strikes on every pitch.
If a pitcher, catcher or batter disagrees with the umpire’s initial call, a challenge can be requested by immediately tapping on his hat or helmet and vocalizing a challenge.
Only the batter, pitcher or catcher are allowed to call for a challenge. It must be requested immediately after the call, and help from the coaching staff, other players or anyone else is not permitted.
Dave Roberts excited for ABS Challenge System
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is among those in favor of the ABS Challenge System and believes it will benefit MLB as a whole.
“I think it’s great,” Roberts began. “I think the fans enjoyed it in Spring Training, I think there’s a strategy with when you use your challenges, and I also think it helps raise the level of consistency for umpires. And that’s a good thing.
“You miss by a little bit, and you’re challenged, that probably never feels good. So it just heightens that focus, which is ultimately good for the game.
“And it’s not a knock on umpires. I think it’s just a good thing for everyone if something kind of elevates the level of performance.”
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