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MLB Introduces Automated Ball-Strike Challenges for 2026

9/23/2025

34 7 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

MLB will implement the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System (ABS) in the 2026 season to review balls and strikes.
Each team has two challenges per game, with a third in extra innings; successful challenges are retained.
The ABS uses 12 Hawk-Eye cameras and T-Mobile's 5G for tracking, with a 15-second review; the strike zone is a 17-inch-wide rectangle adjusted for height.

History

Historical Context

Major League Baseball (MLB) implemented instant replay in 2014, allowing managers to challenge calls, resulting in a 30% increase in overturned decisions. The Automated Ball-Strike System, set for the 2026 season, will utilize 12 Hawk-Eye cameras and T-Mobile's 5G technology to enhance accuracy. This evolution reflects MLB's commitment to improving game fairness and pace, addressing long-standing concerns about umpire call accuracy.

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Story summary

MLB will implement the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System (ABS) in the 2026 season to review balls and strikes.
Each team has two challenges per game, with a third in extra innings; successful challenges are retained.
The ABS uses 12 Hawk-Eye cameras and T-Mobile's 5G for tracking, with a 15-second review; the strike zone is a 17-inch-wide rectangle adjusted for height.

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