Get ready for robo umps: the league’s competition committee is reportedly scheduled to meet today, and they are expected to approve the use of an automated balls and strikes (ABS) system in the Major Leagues in 2026.
From Joel Sherman:
nypost.com/2025/09/23/s… MLB's Joint Competition Committee is scheduled to meet today with the very strong expectation of approving the Automated Ball Strike challenge system for 2026.
— Joel Sherman (@joelsherman.bsky.social) 2025-09-23T14:42:38.562ZMLB has been testing various ABS systems for years now throughout the minor leagues, as well as in Spring Training this season. We all knew this was coming eventually, and it was just a matter of enough confidence in the technology, as well as buy-in from enough of the players. (Part of the reason you implement the rules in the minor leagues for a number of years first is that, by the time you’re ready to do it in the big leagues, half of the league has already played in ABS games.)
I anticipate that the league will implement a challenge-based ABS system, with a human umpire calling balls and strikes, subject to a limited number of challenges given to each team (which can be sought by the pitcher, catcher, or batter). Not only is such a system NOT detractive from the game experience, it can kinda be fun to see how the challenge plays out. The Cubs were involved in the very first one this spring.
The technology exists to get more of these calls right, and to do so in a way that doesn’t take away from whatever fun is attached to having human umpires call balls and strikes for the most part. So let’s go. Do it.
More details coming soon, I expect.
UPDATE: THERE IT IS. MLB just made the announcement:
“BREAKING: Major League Baseball will use the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System (ABS) during the entire 2026 season.
ABS CHALLENGE RULES:
Each team will get two challenges and can keep them if they’re successful Challenges can only be initiated by a pitcher, catcher, or batter, and the request must come right after the pitch To signal a challenge, the pitcher, catcher, or batter will tap his hat or helmet to let the umpire know No help from the dugout or other players on the field is allowed In each extra inning, a team will be awarded a challenge if it has none remaining entering the inningThe ABS Challenge System powered by T-Mobile 5G network uses cameras set up around the perimeter of the field to track the location of each pitch and a graphic on the scoreboard shows the result of the challenge.”
Hence then, the article about bring on the robo umps approval for automated balls and strikes expected today update it s happening was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Bring on the Robo Umps! Approval for Automated Balls and Strikes Expected Today! (UPDATE: It’s Happening!) )
Also on site :