Major League Baseball (MLB) has finally announced that the Automated Ball Strike (ABS) Challenge Systemhas been approved for Major League play by a vote of the Joint Competition Committee.
Beginning in 2026, the “Challenge System” will be used in all Spring Training, Championship Season, and Postseason games. The Competition Committee – comprised of six owners, four active players and one active umpire – was created as part of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiated between MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA). MLB has extensively tested the use of ABS technology in Triple-A since 2022, in addition to testing during 2025 Major League Spring Training and the 2025 All-Star Game. The final design of the system, including moving to the ABS Challenge format, is a result of significant feedback from players, coaches, front office staff, umpires, and fans.
Minor League Baseball’s Florida State League (Single-A) has utilized ABS since 2021, Triple-A has had ABS in select parks since 2022, and ABS has been across all of Triple-A since 2023. ABS Challenge debuted at the Major League level in 2025 Spring Training.
The 2025 All-Star Game in Atlanta also featured ABS Challenge:
Marc Topkin inquired with some Rays folks on the ABS system following the announcement. Here are two key quotes, but please read more at the Tampa Bay Times.
In Spring Training 2025, the ABS Challenge was given a trial run. Here are a few observations from the results featured in MLB’s press release:
