MLB will implement the Automated Ball-Strike

[metirish]

BREAKING: Major League Baseball will use the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System (ABS) during the entire 2026 season

ABS CHALLENGE RULES:

- Each team will get two challenges and can keep them if they're successful

- Challenges can only be initiated by a pitcher, catcher, or batter, and the request must come right after the pitch

- To signal a challenge, the pitcher, catcher, or batter will tap his hat or helmet to let the umpire know

- No help from the dugout or other players on the field is allowed

- In each extra inning, a team will be awarded a challenge if it has none remaining entering the inning

The ABS Challenge System powered by T-Mobile 5G network uses cameras set up around the perimeter of the field to track the location of each pitch and a graphic on the scoreboard shows the result of the challenge

 

[TWEET]

[/TWEET]

[Benjamin Grimm]

No help from the dugout or other players on the field is allowed

 

So what happens if the shortstop yells "Challenge it!" ?

Or if the shortstop yells "French Onion Soup!" and the pitcher knows that that's a secret code for "Challenge It!"

[Edgy MD]

I can't believe you just gave away the French Onion Soup Code.

LOOSE LIPS SINK SHIPS, BEN!

[Fman99]

We've been watching them use it for some time here in AAA and it works great. Average review time is 13 seconds.

[roger_that]

MLB enters the early 20th century. Way overdue. The obnoxious bullies who've been calling strikes balls and vice versa for the past 150 years are finally being restricted in making terrible wrong calls.

[DocTee]

I once read a book that characterized umpires into three categories:

1. "Some pitches are balls, and some pitches are strikes and I call 'em as I see 'em."

2. "Some pitches are balls, and some pitches are strikes and I call them as they is."

3. "Some pitches are balls, and some pitches are strikes...but they ain't neither till I call them."

Obnoxious bullies fall into the third category. This system replaces 1 and 3 with 2. That's Good.