MLB to Introduce ABS Challenge System in 2026

Batters, pitchers and catchers will have the ability to challenge ball and strike calls starting this season.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Major League Baseball is set to introduce a new Automated Ball Strike (ABS) challenge system in the 2026 season. The system will allow batters, pitchers and catchers to challenge ball and strike calls, with the final decision made by the ABS technology rather than the home plate umpire. The system has been tested in the minor leagues and spring training, and will now be implemented league-wide starting on Opening Day.

Why it matters

This is a significant change to the game of baseball, as it takes some of the decision-making power away from umpires and places it in the hands of players. The goal is to provide a more accurate and consistent strike zone, but it remains to be seen how the new system will be received by fans, players and umpires.

The details

The ABS challenge system will work as follows: Each team will have two challenges to begin each game, and all successful challenges will be retained. Only the batter, catcher and pitcher are allowed to challenge a ball or strike call. To challenge, the player must tap his head within two seconds, at which point a graphic showing the ball's location will be displayed. The ABS system, which uses 12 Hawk-Eye cameras to track the pitch's location, will determine if the call was correct based on the strike zone defined by the batter's height. The overturn rate during testing was around 50%.

  • The ABS challenge system will be implemented starting in the 2026 MLB season.
  • The system was tested in Triple-A in 2025 and during 2025 MLB spring training.

The players

Joe Martinez

Former big-league pitcher and current vice president of on-field strategy for MLB.

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What they’re saying

“To provide players with an opportunity to correct missed calls in high-leverage moments in a manner that fans like.”

— MLB (Yahoo Sports)

What’s next

MLB will continue to test the ABS challenge system during the 2026 spring training games to gather more data and feedback before its official implementation on Opening Day.

The takeaway

The introduction of the ABS challenge system represents a significant shift in how the game of baseball is officiated, as it takes some of the decision-making power away from umpires and places it in the hands of players. This change is aimed at providing a more accurate and consistent strike zone, but it remains to be seen how it will be received by the baseball community.