Balls & Strikes Challenge In 2026

[Ratsbuddy]

Apparently it was just voted in for 2026.

Two challenges per game.

[1toughdominican]

I was also led to understand that robot umpires were on tap in ’26.

[Brian Walton]

Link to press release.

https://pressbox.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-mlb-announces-abs-challenge-system-coming-to-the-major-leagues-beginning-in-the-2026-season

[Cardinals27]

I cannot wait for this.

[1982 willie]

Well to me it would be a lot better if it was the machines calling all the strikes. I thought originally it was that and the challenge was for times the machine messes up which i believe they do, rare but happens. But no umpires still calling it which is silly. Some umpires screw up a lot and there isnt enough challenges for it.

[Brian Walton]

Changes perceived by some as being this radical have to come in iterations.

[blingboy]

Its like they think they can sneak it past us. I prefer the Earl Weaver style challenge, but if they are going to robots, then go to robots.

[blingboy]

I wonder if Hjerpe with the quirky arm angle, release, would be helped or hurt by robo ball/strike calls. I thought of it when Kyle mentioned him having to live on the black. It seems like that would be a hard call to make. Whether the inconsistency of human calls helps or hurts is a question.

[gscottar]

It will certainly hurt catchers who make their money by pitch framing.

[ZTR]

The individualized and inconsistent strike zones just have to go. We have the technology to have balls & strikes called by AI. That’s how it needs to be with a very limited number of challenges per team.

I’m for speeding the game up AND getting the calls right – not slowing it down.

[Author]

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