The MLB has undergone some sweeping changes to the way the game is played in recent years in an effort to modernize the sport and make it more palatable for television viewers and younger fans.
These changes have included a pitch clock, larger bases, and a ban on the shift. However, many fans have felt that the league needs to go a step further and employ electronic umpires rather than human ones to remove the human error associated with balls and strikes.
Now, it appears that those fans will be getting their wish next season, although it will be in a limited capacity.
“Breaking: MLB will implement the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System starting in the 2026 season (ABS). 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,” ESPN reported on Twitter on Tuesday.
Fans reacted to the news on social media.
“They could just instantly get every ball and strike right by having the automated strike-zone system notify the ump when a pitch is a strike,” one fan wrote on Twitter.
“Stop. Challenges and video review are ruining sports. Human error is a part of it. If it’s perfection it’s not sports, just stop with all of it,” someone else added.
“Can’t wait to see how this impacts and affects games. Definitely will be intriguing to watch it unfold in big moments,” one fan added.
If this is a success, it may very well lead to the removal of human umpires completely.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.