Robot umpires coming to MLB, strikes and balls now challengeable

Major League Baseball (MLB) will introduce robot umpires in the 2026 season through the Automated Ball/Strike System (ABS) Challenge System, allowing teams to challenge close ball-strike calls. This system, approved by MLB’s 11-man competition committee, has been tested in the minors since 2019 and featured in big league spring training in 2025. While umpires will still make initial calls, players—specifically the pitcher, catcher, or batter—can signal challenges by tapping their cap or helmet. Each team starts with two challenges per game, with additional challenges available in extra innings. The system uses Hawk-Eye cameras and T-Mobile’s 5G network to provide near-instant replay, averaging under 15 seconds per review, thus maintaining game pace. The ABS system has demonstrated effectiveness in spring training and Triple-A games, with a 52.2% overturn rate on challenged calls and catchers and pitchers winning about 54% of their appeals. MLB