A call is confirmed by ABS at a Diamondbacks Spring Training game. Photo: Chris Coduto/Getty Images
A big change is coming to Major League Baseball, and you can get an early glimpse of it at Spring Training in the Valley.
The big picture: The MLB is debuting the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System to reduce missed calls on balls and strikes this season.
It aims to improve fairness on borderline judgements, especially in critical situations.
State of play: The new technology and challenge protocol is being used at all Spring Training games this year.
Five Cactus League facilities tested it last year and it's been used in the minor leagues since 2022.
How it works: Each team starts with two challenges. The batter, pitcher or catcher can initiate a review by tapping their helmet or cap immediately after the call.
If it succeeds, meaning the umpire's decision is overturned, the team keeps that challenge — if it fails, it's lost.
If a game goes to extra innings, teams without any challenges will receive one extra.
What they're saying: The Athletic's Jim Bowden, who's covering Spring Training, wrote that fans seem to like the new system as it adds a level of excitement and entertainment to the game experience.
By the numbers: The league reported that players overturned the umpire's verdict 52.2% of the time during last year's Spring Training testing.
