MLB 2026 Season to Include Robot Umpires, Allowing Challenges…

Major League Baseball (MLB) has approved the use of robot umpires starting the 2026 season. This decision was reached by an 11-member competition committee. The Automated Ball/Strike System (ABS) is not meant to replace human umpires but to assist them, bringing a reduction in controversial calls, fewer ejections, and increased fairness. Players can now challenge the calls of plate umpires.

The implementation of ABS means that human umpires will call balls and strikes initially according to rules approved. However, pitchers, catchers, or batters can challenge these calls immediately. There are two challenges allowed per game. If a challenge is successful and the ABS reverses the umpire’s call, the team retains the challenge. In addition, a team that has used all its challenges will get an extra one per extra inning. Challenged calls will be publicly displayed on stadium videoboards.

The strike zone used by ABS will be a uniform two-dimensional rectangular prism positioned over home plate, and will vary based on individual batter’s height.

MLB has been testing ABS in the minor leagues since 2019 and has extended the technology to Triple-A, spring training games, and the 2025 All-Star Game. Throughout these trials, all challenges have been successful at a rate of 50-52%. As Commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. cited, the decision to adopt ABS was partially because of the players’ clear preference for a challenge-based system. The aim is also to decrease instances where players are ejected for arguing strike or ball calls.