Throughout the history of baseball, there were two absolutes in the game…NEVER profanely insult the umpire and you don’t argue balls and strike calls.
Last season, Major League Baseball experimented with the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System where batters, pitchers, and catchers can challenge a ball or strike call on a limited number of pitches.
For 2026, the system is no longer an experiment and will be a part of the games.
The ABS monitors every pitch’s exact location in relation to the batter’s strike zone. If a challenge is made the result will be displayed on the video board.
Hundreds of balls can be thrown in a single game but at least for now, each team only gets two challenges per game during a nine inning game. Should a game go into extra innings, each team will get one challenge per inning; provided they have didn’t go into the extra innings with a challenge.
The ABS will be used for all MLB games including the postseason with the exception of the Diamondbacks vs. Padres games in Mexico City, the Field of Dreams games with the Twins and Phillies, and the Little League Classic game with the Brewers and Braves because the games are being played in non MLB games and do not have the proper equipment to support the ABS.
Only the batter, the catcher, or the pitcher may challenge the call and must be made immediately after the pitch; all others including the managers cannot challenge a call.
Some teams have announced that the pitchers will not be allowed to ask for a challenge; deferring to the catcher’s view of the pitch.
The challenge is called by tapping to top of the head (cap or helmet). Some teams are encouraging the challenger to also verbally express their wishes just to eliminate any doubt.
When a challenge is made, the result of the call is made via an animated baseball on the stadium’s video board.
If a team wins their challenge, they get to keep that challenge just like challenges in football games.
If an umpire feels that a batter, catcher, or pitcher had help in asking for a challenge or if the challenge was not made within the two second limit, that challenge can be denied.
Only normally designated starting pitchers and relievers may make a challenge. If a manager puts a regular position player in to pitch, he is not allowed to make a challenge.
ABS challenges are not allowed in cases where an official review was called.
Baseball Savant has a stat on everything in the MLB and challenges made, won, or lost will be added to the numerous stats that are kept on each player and team.