More Than Half of Ball and Strike Challenges Succeed in Spring Training Openers

MLB prepares for first season with expanded video review of umpire calls

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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More than half of the ball and strike challenges were successful on the first day of spring training games on Friday, as Major League Baseball prepares for the first season with expanded video review of umpire calls.

Why it matters

The high rate of successful challenges highlights the ongoing debate around the use of technology to assist umpires and ensure accurate calls, as well as the potential impact on the pace and flow of the game.

The details

According to the Associated Press report, little more than half of the ball and strike challenges were upheld on the opening day of spring training games. This comes as MLB is set to implement expanded video review for the 2026 season, allowing managers to challenge more types of calls beyond just home runs.

  • The spring training games took place on Friday, February 21, 2026.

The players

Major League Baseball

The professional baseball organization that oversees the 30 MLB teams in the United States and Canada.

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What’s next

MLB will continue to monitor the use of video review throughout spring training as they prepare to roll out the expanded system for the 2026 regular season.

The takeaway

The high rate of successful ball and strike challenges in spring training highlights the ongoing debate around the use of technology in baseball to improve accuracy, but also the potential impact on the traditional flow and pace of the game.