"Major League Baseball's 11-man competition committee on Tuesday approved use of the Automated Ball/Strike System in the major leagues in 2026. Human plate umpires will still call balls and strikes, but teams can challenge two calls per game and get additional appeals in extra innings. Challenges must be made by a pitcher, catcher or batter - signaled by tapping their helmet or cap - and a team retains its challenge if successful. Reviews will be shown as digital graphics on outfield videoboards."
"Adding the robot umps is likely to cut down on ejections. MLB said 61.5% of ejections among players, managers and coaches last year were related to balls and strikes, as were 60.3% this season through Sunday. The figures include ejections for derogatory comments, throwing equipment while protesting calls and inappropriate conduct. Big league umpires call roughly 94% of pitches correctly, according to UmpScorecards."
"ABS, which utilizes Hawk-Eye cameras, has been tested in the minor leagues since 2019. The independent Atlantic League trialed the system at its 2019 All-Star Game and MLB installed the technology for that's year Arizona Fall League of top prospects. The ABS was tried at eight of nine ballparks of the Low-A Southeast League in 2021, then moved up to Triple-A in 2022."
Major League Baseball approved the Automated Ball/Strike System for major league use in 2026. Human plate umpires will remain on the field, but teams can issue two challenges per game with additional appeals in extra innings. Challenges must be signaled by a pitcher, catcher, or batter tapping a helmet or cap, and successful challenges preserve the team's remaining challenge. Reviews will be displayed as digital graphics on outfield videoboards. The system uses Hawk-Eye cameras and has been tested across independent leagues, Low-A, Triple-A and spring training, with teams winning just over half of challenges in trials.
Read at ESPN.com
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