MLB Approves Automated Strike Zone Challenge System for 2026

10 HOURS AGO·UPDATED 10 HOURS AGO

story

Above: Major League Baseball umpire calls strike three at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Mo., on Sept. 19, 2025. Image copyright: Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

The Spin

Techno-optimist narrative

This technology represents a necessary evolution that preserves baseball's integrity while correcting egregious missed calls in crucial moments. The challenge system strikes the perfect balance by maintaining umpires' central role while providing accountability when it matters most. With umpire calls still generally accurate, fans deserve a more precise system without losing the human element.

Sports Illustrated San Diego Union

Techno-skeptic narrative

While the MLB should honor the loud calls from fans to implement an automated system, the league should be careful not to become fully automated. Minor league trials show 61% of players and staff prefer the challenge system, with only 11% favoring full ABS. Fans also prefer challenges, with experts warning that ABS's rigid calls could spark disputes and erode baseball's human element, risking a less engaging, mechanical game.

Bleed Cubbie Blue The Athletic