Counsell endorses ball-strike challenges for ‘26

MLB players will be able to question umpires' call more often next season.

The Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System, or ABS, was approved by the joint competition committee for use in 2026.

Each team will get two challenges to use during a game, with an additional challenge for each extra inning. Challenges can be requested only by the batter, pitcher or catcher by tapping their head. Managers cannot challenge ball-strike calls.

Successful challenges are retained, and in spring training, the reviews took an average of 13.8 seconds.

“Technology is upon us,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said before Tuesday's game. “I think my gut feel on it is the players kind of like this. I think the fans will enjoy the video game aspect of it, when the (decision) goes on the scoreboard. I don't think it'll interrupt pace of play and the goal is to have a better strike zone. We should always be trying to make things better.”

The challenge system has been used for several years in the minor leagues and also MLB spring training. So most players have experience with it.

“I used it in Triple-A,” Pete Crow-Armstrong said. “I didn't feel like it affected the game overall in a negative way. Still got to go out there and compete against the guy throwing the baseball.”

The minor leagues tried three challenges per team, per game. But MLB is going with two, which means they'll have to be used judiciously.

“I'm probably not going be the guy to go out there and challenge willy-nilly,” Crow-Armstrong said. “Of course you don't want to burn anybody else (on your team). But I'm not really going to think too hard about it.”