MLB to Roll Out AI Ball-Strike Challenges in 2026
Major League Baseball will introduce an Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) challenge system across the majors in 2026, bringing AI-enhanced pitch calls to the big leagues after years of trials in the minors.
The league confirmed the move this week, noting on X that the technology will run on T-Mobile’s 5G network. Using Hawk-Eye pitch-tracking, the ABS setup serves as a compromise between fully robotic umpires and traditional officiating, giving players a quick way to contest borderline calls.
At a glance
- Leaguewide rollout in 2026
- Powered by Hawk-Eye on T-Mobile 5G
- Challenge-based system—keeps human umpires on the field
How will the ABS challenge system work?
- Each team gets two challenges per game and retains them if the call is overturned.
- Extra challenges will be added in extra innings.
- Only the pitcher, catcher, or batter can initiate a challenge.
- Challenges must be made immediately after the pitch.
What informed the decision
ABS has been tested since 2019 in the Atlantic League and Triple-A. MLB says feedback from those trials, along with fan surveys during Spring Training, helped shape the format.
- In league polling, 72% of fans reported that the challenge system improved their viewing experience.
- 69% said MLB should proceed with ABS, while 31% preferred sticking solely with human umpires.
Players and league perspective
Commissioner Rob Manfred said fan acceptance and player input both influenced the decision, adding that players strongly favoured the challenge model over having every pitch called by technology.
AI officiating beyond baseball
By committing to ABS for the entire 2026 season, MLB joins other sports that are leaning on AI and real-time tracking to support officiating and enhance engagement. Similar tools have been used at Wimbledon, the U.S. Open, and the Tour de France.
Bottom line
The challenge system aims to blend accuracy with the tradition of on-field umpiring, offering a faster, transparent check on crucial strike-zone calls without removing human officials from the game.
