The future of umpiring in Major League Baseball is here, and it's a blend of technology and human judgment. While the Automated Ball/Strike (ABS) system is set to revolutionize the game, the human touch remains crucial. The question remains: how will this new technology impact the game and the strategies of managers and players?
The ABS system, which was first introduced in spring training last year, is designed to assist human umpires by using cameras to track each pitch and determine if it crossed home plate within the strike zone. But will this technology truly enhance the game, or will it create new challenges?
Colorado Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer has some experience with the ABS system, and he believes that the human touch is still essential. 'I've seen challenges lost in the first inning,' he said. 'That's not good. Emotion is a big key to this.'
The ABS system has been met with a mix of curiosity, excitement, disdain, and uncertainty. But as the technology is implemented in regular-season games in 2026, the novelty is quickly giving way to strategy.
MLB's Vice President of On-Field Strategy, Joe Martinez, presented the ABS process at Cactus League Media Day in Arizona. A survey found that 52% of fans said ABS had a 'very positive' impact on last year's spring training games, while only 10% rated it as having a 'slightly negative' or 'very negative' effect.
The ABS system works by outfitting stadiums with cameras that track each pitch and judge whether it crossed home plate within the strike zone. Human umpires still call every pitch, but each team has the ability to challenge two calls per game.
Teams that burn their challenges get one additional challenge in each extra inning. A team retains its challenge if successful, similar to the regulations for video reviews, which were first used for home run calls in August 2008.
Only a batter, pitcher, or catcher may challenge a call, signaling by tapping one hand on a helmet or cap. Assistance from the dugout is not allowed, and a challenge must be made within two seconds.
Schaeffer, who managed in Albuquerque when ABS debuted in Triple-A in 2022, believes that teams need to develop a coherent strategy on how to deploy challenges. '15 guys will have 15 different opinions,' he said. 'But the most important aspect is everyone is on the same page.'
Catchers will likely have the most leeway to challenge because they have the best view of the baseball. 'You want to have one late in the game, just in case,' said Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo. 'The top of the first inning on a 0-0 fastball … I don’t want to challenge and lose. We’ll most likely rely on catchers first.'
The ABS system could be particularly beneficial to players like New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who have a good eye for the strike zone. 'Our guys who are really good at controlling the zone should benefit, and Aaron is certainly one of those guys who controls it real well,' said Yankees manager Aaron Boone.
ABS was tested in 13 spring training ballparks last year, and teams won 52.2% of 1,182 challenges, which averaged 13.8 seconds. Strike zones vary depending on a player's height, with the top of the strike zone starting at 53.5% of a batter's height and the bottom at 27%.
Each player will be measured for their strike zone starting at 10 a.m. to noon on a rolling basis during spring training, and the data will be verified by the Southwest Research Institute. There appears to be widespread agreement across MLB that the ABS system is a positive.
Texas Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young, who used to work closely with MLB's umpires, believes they were long overdue for some help. 'They do a phenomenal job, but the stuff in today's game is better than ever,' he said. 'Umpiring is harder than ever. If there's the ability to use technology to add a level of consistency, that's great for everybody.'
