MLB Confirms League-Wide Use of Ball-Strike Challenge System Starting 2026

Newsweek ^ | September 23, 2025 | Julio Cesar Valdera Morales

[Adder]

Uh..Angel Hernandez, anyone recall?

They used this in spring training ball and it did not seem to impact the overall stream of play. It also confirmed that the umpires got it right a lot of the time.
I lean to it being a good thing because the called pitch is the key to the game. No subsequent action happens without it. The accuracy of the call becomes pretty important.

[nikos1121]

This is the first step in getting rid of umpires all together.

[DoodleBob]

I love Zappa and free jazz.

I think the Stones and Bon Jovi and Springsteen are awful.

Prog rock is killer.

Same deal here. Except George Carlin weighed in on baseball convincingly.

[moviefan8]

If limiting the time is the goal just have a time limit like bananaball. Have the same rules at that league. Those games are fast.

[telescope115]

I agree. Umpires can and DO bollux up calls from time to time. Let it be upon them. Still, it will be interesting to see how this works.

[jjotto]

There is almost no time impact to ABS. The Hawk-Eye system has been in MLB since 2019 or so, tracking every pitch and other stuff.

ABS is not a ‘replay’ that requires a judgment call after review; the answer to a challenge is just a readout of the call already made by ABS from Hawk-Eye.

[telescope115]

Well, what’s the next step after this development? Eventually getting rid of umpires altogether?

[1Old Pro]

There is almost no time impact to ABS. The Hawk-Eye system has been in MLB since 2019 or so, tracking every pitch and other stuff. ABS is not a ‘replay’ that requires a judgment call after review; the answer to a challenge is just a readout of the call already made by ABS from Hawk-Eye.

That being the case, I love the idea.

[Frank Drebin]

[Churchillspirit]

You make far too much sense!

[cgbg]

One thing this will highlight is the significant difference between the best umpires and the worst ones.

This will have real numbers after one season—probably a good thing.

[Political Junkie Too]

I don't think there is an AI that can tell tags and balks.

-PJ

[Scrambler Bob]

And for 2027, Pitchers will be allowed to use pitching machines, kind of like tri-pod mounted bazookas.