Major League Baseball will use the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System (ABS) during the entire 2026 season

ABS CHALLENGE RULES:

- 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

- To signal a challenge, the pitcher, catcher, or batter will tap his hat or helmet to let the umpire know

- No help from the dugout or other players on the field is allowed

- In each extra inning, a team will be awarded a challenge if it has none remaining entering the inning

The ABS Challenge System powered by T-Mobile 5G network uses cameras set up around the perimeter of the field to track the location of each pitch and a graphic on the scoreboard shows the result of the challenge