With a tap of their head, players will be able to trigger an automated review when they disagree with an umpire’s call. In spring training this year, just over half of challenges were successful.
Starting in the 2026 season, Major League Baseball players will be able to challenge called balls and strikes in regular and postseason games for the first time.
The widely expected adoption of the challenge system — which is powered by baseball’s automated strike zone, known as ABS — was announced Tuesday after years of testing in the minor leagues and a major-league debut this year in spring training and the All-Star Game.
The new system “[strikes] the right balance of preserving the integral role of the umpire in the game with the ability to correct a missed call in a high-leverage situation, all while preserving the pace and rhythm of the game”, said MLB commissioner Rob Manfred in a press release.
Only batters, pitchers and catchers are allowed to challenge the umpire’s call. The challenge, indicated by a player tapping his head, must be made immediately after the call of ball or strike. Afterward, an automated video will play on the scoreboard showing the location of the pitch and strike zone as detected by a series of 12 cameras placed around every ballpark.
Each team will begin each game with two challenges. If a call is overturned, the team retains that challenge; if a call is upheld, the team loses that challenge. Once a team loses both its challenges, no player can challenge any more calls.
Tayler Saucedo, a relief pitcher who played with the Seattle Mariners this season, says he’s glad it’s coming to the Major Leagues after some initial reluctance.
