"Major League Baseball's Joint Competition Committee will meet today to vote on the implementation of the Automated Ball-Strike system for the 2026 season, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports. The 11-person committee - comprised of six owners, four players and one umpire - is expected to approve the ABS system for next year. It'll be a radical shift to the game's identity - one that many fans feel is overdue but many others oppose with fervor."
"Under the incoming ABS system, any pitcher, catcher or hitter will be able to tap his helmet or cap to signify his desire to challenge a ball or strike call from the home plate umpire. Teams are afforded two challenges per game but are only docked a challenge if it is unsuccessful. Once a team has two unsuccessful challenges, they'll be out of challenges for the remainder of the game."
Major League Baseball's Joint Competition Committee is meeting to vote on implementing an Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) system for the 2026 season, with approval expected. The 11-person committee includes six owners, four players and one umpire. The ABS rollout will use a challenge system rather than fully automating the strike zone. Any pitcher, catcher or hitter can tap his helmet or cap to challenge a call. Teams receive two challenges but are only charged on unsuccessful ones; two unsuccessful challenges eliminate further challenges. Challenges must be immediate and results display on the scoreboard. The system has been used in the minors and spring training for player acclimation.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]