MLB Greenlights Automated Ball Strike (ABS) System for 2026 SeasonThe system relies on T-Mobile's 5G private network and Sony Hawk-Eye camerasBy Jason Dachman, Editorial Director, U.S.
Tuesday, September 23, 2025 - 2:24 pm
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
Today, MLB announced that it will deploy its Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System for regular season games in 2026, using T-Mobile's 5G private network and Sony Hawk-Eye cameras for split-second decision-making. The move comes following years of testing in the minor leagues and during MLB All-Star Weekend. Beginning in 2026, the Challenge System will be used in all Spring Training, Championship Season, and Postseason games.
MLB has extensively tested the use of ABS technology in Triple-A since 2022, in addition to testing during 2025 Major League Spring Training and the 2025 All-Star Game. The final design of the system, including moving to the ABS Challenge format, is a result of significant feedback from players, coaches, front office staff, umpires, and fans.
The ABS Challenge System runs on a 5G private network from T-Mobile for Business' Advanced Network Solutions, enabling real-time communication as calls are challenged, pitches are analyzed, and decisions are relayed to players and fans. Twelve of Sony's Hawk-Eye Innovations cameras are set up around the perimeter of the field track the location of each pitch.
If a pitcher, catcher, or batter disagrees with the umpire's initial call of ball or strike, he can request a challenge by immediately tapping on his hat or helmet and vocalizing a challenge. The pitch location is compared to the batter's strike zone, and if any part of the ball touches any part of the strike zone, the pitch will be considered a strike. The home plate umpire will announce the challenge to the fans in the ballpark and a graphic showing the outcome of the challenge will be displayed on the scoreboard and broadcast. The entire process takes approximately 15 seconds.
The previous rule changes that have been adopted by the Joint Competition Committee have had staying power and created momentum for the game, says Commissioner of Baseball Robert D. Manfred, Jr. We used the same process with ABS that started with listening to fans, conducting extensive testing at the minor league level, and trying at every step to make the game better. Throughout this process we have worked on deploying the system in a way that's acceptable to players. The strong preference from players for the Challenge format over using the technology to call every pitch was a key factor in determining the system we are announcing today.
ABS Challenge System Rules and Strike Zone Each club will start the game with two challenges, and all successful challenges are retained. Only the pitcher, catcher or batter may challenge an umpire's call of ball or strike. Challenges must be requested immediately after the call, and players may not receive help from the coaching staff, other players, or anyone else. In each extra inning, a team will be awarded a challenge if it has none remaining entering the inning.
The strike zone will be a two-dimensional rectangle that is set in the middle of home plate with the edges of the zone set to the width of home plate (17 inches) and the top and bottom adjusted based on each individual player's height (53.5% of the batter's height at the top and 27% at the bottom). As was the process ahead of 2025 Spring Training, independent testers will measure players in Major League Spring Training using a standardized process. MLB will certify each player's official height before that player may appear in any Major League game.
As the official wireless partner of MLB, T-Mobile is delivering the real-time, low-latency connectivity that is critical to bringing the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System to life on the field.
A Team Effort: Owners, Players, and Umpires CollaborateThe Competition Committee - comprised of six owners, four active players and one active umpire - was created as part of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiated between MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA).
From its inception, the Joint Competition Committee's constructive conversations between players, umpires and owners have produced rules that significantly improved the game for fans. The ABS Challenge System is another big step forward for the game. ABS Challenge strikes the right balance of putting a tool in the players' hands to correct a missed call in a high leverage spot while retaining the human element of the game and adding a new fan-friendly engagement moment. I want to thank the Commissioner's Office, the Players Association, and the Major League Umpires for their dedication to the greatest game ever invented.
I commend the Joint Competition Committee for striking 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 Manfred. I thank the Major League Umpires for their collaboration and the Major League Players for their feedback in moving the game forward for the fans.
A Look Back at the Data: Minors, Spring Training, and All-Star Tests
Minor League Baseball's Florida State League (Single-A) has utilized ABS since 2021, Triple-A has had ABS in select parks since 2022, and ABS has been across all of Triple-A since 2023. ABS Challenge debuted at the Major League level in 2025 Spring Training. The 2025 All-Star Game in Atlanta also featured ABS Challenge.
During the 2025 Spring Training, teams challenged just over four pitches per game with a success rate near 50%, consistent with results observed during Minor League testing. The offense an
Most recent headlines
09/11/2025
Dalet today announced a transformative leap forward for media operations: Agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI) that unifies the Dalet ecosystem under one natura...
06/10/2025
France T l visions, France's leading broadcaster, has received the 2025 EBU ...
23/09/2025
ToolsOnAir Blackmagic Design HyperDeck Event Presets for just:in mac & just:in l...
23/09/2025
ToolsOnAir AJA Ki Pro Event Presets for just:in mac & just:in linux
More Details:Starting with version 5.5, both just:in mac and just:in linux solutions suppor...
23/09/2025
ToolsOnAir iconik Integration v.6.x for just:in mac & just:in linux
More Details:Driven by the desire for efficient automation, just:in mac and just:in linux e...
23/09/2025
ToolsOnAir XML Communication Protocol
More Details: This document is intended for third-party developers or system integrators who may wish to integrate with...
23/09/2025
ToolsOnAir Composition Builder Boilerplate
More Details: The Composition Builder application for macOS enables TV stations and Live Event broadcaster to effo...
23/09/2025
ToolsOnAr just:live Boilerplate
More Details: just:live is a Single Channel Live Production Playout solution for video and static or real-time graphics. It i...
23/09/2025
ToolsOnAr just:play Boilerplate
More Details: just:play is a Single Channel automated 24/7 Master Control playout solution with SD, HD and UHD format support...
23/09/2025
ToolsOnAr live:cut Boilerplate
More Details: live:cut is an option to just:in mac or just:in linux and enables multicamera production workflows for up to 16 ...
23/09/2025
ToolsOnAir just:in mac lite NDI Boilerplate
More Details: just:in mac lite NDI is a streamlined media capture solution designed specifically for macOS. It le...
23/09/2025
ToolsOnAir just:in mac lite Boilerplate
More Details: just:in mac lite is a streamlined media capture solution designed specifically for macOS. It lets you r...
23/09/2025
ToolsOnAir just:in mac Boilerplate
More Details: just:in mac is a macOS-based client-server multichannel capture solution to record SDI, HDMI, NDI , SRT, UDP...
23/09/2025
Growing File Support for MOV containers within Adobe Premiere Pro 25.x and Black...
23/09/2025
just:in mac version 2025.2.1 introduces an additional NDI mode
More Details:NDI channels now have an additional Timecode mode settings with the options NDI...
23/09/2025
Visit ToolsOnAir at NAB New York 2025
More Details:On October 22-23, join us at the Javits Center, Booth 358, for an exclusive preview of what's next from ...
23/09/2025
Life for people living on the front line of war, conflict and climate change is exposed in graphic and often courageous detail by journalists who've made th...
23/09/2025
SVG All-Stars: Michael Treanor, Senior Producer, Live Events, MLB NetworkFrom production assistant to lead producer, his career growth reflects that of the spor...
23/09/2025
SVG Sit-Down: Blackmagic's Bob Caniglia on the New ProDock and What it Means...
23/09/2025
Less Is More: How The Premier League, SailGP, and the PGA European Tour Lean Har...
23/09/2025
Ryder Cup Preview: NBC Sports Lead Golf Producer Tommy Roy Looks To Ramp Up Ente...
23/09/2025
Ryder Cup Preview: T-Mobile 5G To Power TV Production, Event Operations T-Mobile Breakfast at Bethpage' onsite pregame show will make its debutBy Ken Kersch...
23/09/2025
MLB Greenlights Automated Ball Strike (ABS) System for 2026 SeasonThe system relies on T-Mobile's 5G private network and Sony Hawk-Eye camerasBy Jason Dachm...
23/09/2025
Take SMPTE's Content Provenance and Authenticity Survey Today!Survey's goal is to identify gaps in current standards, explore interoperability with emer...
23/09/2025
From September 15 to October 15, we celebrate Latin Heritage Month, a time to honor the culture, creativity, and voices of Latin communities around the world. I...
23/09/2025
Music and streetwear have always spoken the same language, and Spotify is turnin...
23/09/2025
When Bad Bunny announced his first-ever residency in his native Puerto Rico, it ...
23/09/2025
Think you know Australia's history? Think again.
22 September, 2025
Media releases
The Idea of Australia is an ambitious landmark documentary series ...
23/09/2025
Our propulsion solutions protect key Golden Dome space assets to ensure that both sensor and shooter missile shield satellites are difficult to track, target an...
23/09/2025
The Tactical Operations Center-Light (TOC-L), developed by L3Harris in partnership with Booz Allen, is a key component of the Department of the Air Force's ...
23/09/2025
eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({ content_source:......
23/09/2025
College Football and NFL Preseason Drive Increases for ABC Affiliates ( 4%), ESP...
23/09/2025
The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 is one of the most versatile compact cameras on the market, perfect for creators who need high-quality footage in a travel-friendly size. ...
23/09/2025
IRVING, Texas Although ABC has announced that Jimmy Kimmel Live! will return to its late night schedule on Tuesday Sept. 23, Nexstar Media Group, Inc. has iss...
23/09/2025
German-based cinematographer Tim Pfautsch was a uniquely excellent choice to lens the experimental documentary Fassaden (internationally titled Curtains). Narra...
23/09/2025
VisualOn, a global pioneer in multimedia playback solutions, and Axinom, a leading provider of DRM technologies, have partnered with a global communications and...
23/09/2025
Matthews, known for their extensive line of C-Stands and other grip gear, introduces a better solution to help lug equipment from vehicle to set and back. The n...
23/09/2025
In its sixth year, the Awards again received applications from across the world
Rise, the gender diversity network for the media technology industry, today an...
23/09/2025
DHD reports strong interest in its expanding range of digital audio production equipment at the 12-15 September International Broadcasting Convention in Amsterd...
23/09/2025
Advanced Systems Group, LLC (ASG), a technology and services provider for media creatives and content owners, continues to expand its global reach with the appo...
23/09/2025
The DPP, the international network for media and technology, is delighted to announce that nxtedition will be the Headline Sponsor for the DPP Leaders' Brie...
23/09/2025
AMSTERDAM TV Tech has named its Best of Show Awards winners for IBC2025, which wraps up today. Entrants were judged by a panel of industry experts on the criter...
23/09/2025
AB InBev and Netflix have announced a multiyear global marketing partnership that the two companies are calling unprecedented in terms of its global reach and...
23/09/2025
A recent announcement by the Trump administration that it plans to crack down on the roaring costs of prescription drug advertising as part of a push to curb mi...
23/09/2025
Visitors to the 2025 IBC Show were eager to discuss the latest trends and test out new products and services, all with the goals of content monetization and lea...
23/09/2025
ESPN has announced that its coverage of NCAA men's and women's ice hockey on its networks and streaming platforms will total more than 620 games during ...
23/09/2025
The Walt Disney Company has issued a short statement saying that Jimmy Kimmel Live! will return to its standard late night time slot on ABC on Tuesday Sept. 2...
23/09/2025
Graduate Spotlight: Tom s M rquez The educator from San Juan, Puerto Rico, shares how he went from Berklee ABLE Assembly conference attendee to graduate stude...
23/09/2025
Telos Alliance Announces New Inside Sales Role for John Bisset
Search
Cleveland, Ohio (September 23, 2025) - Telos Alliance , trusted global leader in broa...
MLB Greenlights Automated Ball Strike (ABS) System for 2026 SeasonThe system relies on T-Mobile's 5G private network and Sony Hawk-Eye camerasBy Jason Dachman, Editorial Director, U.S. 
