Major League Baseball has approved the use of its Automated Ball-Strike system (ABS) for the 2026 postseason after a full regular season trial showed significant improvements in call accuracy and game pace.
System Performance
The ABS technology uses Hawk-Eye cameras to track pitches in real-time, relaying ball/strike calls to the home plate umpire via an earpiece.
- Call accuracy improved from 88% (human only) to 99.7% (ABS-assisted)
- Average game time decreased by 11 minutes due to fewer arguments and reviews
- Borderline pitch disputes dropped 94% from the previous season
- Umpires retained the ability to override ABS calls on check swings and hit-by-pitches
Player Reaction
Pitchers have adapted their approach, with the consistent zone rewarding precise pitching over reputation-based strike calls. Hitters report greater confidence in taking close pitches, contributing to a 7% increase in walks and a more disciplined offensive approach league-wide.
