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MLB to Introduce Automated Strike System in 2026

9/25/2025

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Summary

Story summary

The Automated Ball/Strike System (ABS) will debut in Major League Baseball (MLB) in 2026, granting two challenges per game.
The system has been tested in minor leagues since 2019, and players prefer the challenge format.
Hawk-Eye cameras track pitches to enforce a strike zone defined as a rectangle based on batter height; challenges take about 15 seconds with graphics.

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Story summary

The Automated Ball/Strike System (ABS) will debut in Major League Baseball (MLB) in 2026, granting two challenges per game.
The system has been tested in minor leagues since 2019, and players prefer the challenge format.
Hawk-Eye cameras track pitches to enforce a strike zone defined as a rectangle based on batter height; challenges take about 15 seconds with graphics.