MLB could test an automated strike zone challenge system during spring training in 2025

Major League Baseball is close to introducing an automated strike zone.

During his All-Star Game press conference on Tuesday, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said the league could experiment with an automated strike zone challenge during spring training in 2025. That would potentially lay the groundwork for a full implementation of the system in 2026. While Manfred said it’s “feasible” that an automated strike zone could be implemented by 2026, that hasn’t been decided yet.

Under the current system used in Triple-A, a human umpire calls balls and strikes, but pitchers, catchers and hitters all have the right to appeal calls they believe were incorrect. When that happens, the automated ball-strike system (ABS) takes over. The ABS system uses Hawk-Eye camera technology to judge each pitch, similar to tennis.

When a player calls for a challenge, Hawk-Eye is deployed and shows the path of the ball relative to the strike zone. Each player’s strike zone is unique. Each team in Triple-A is currently allowed three unsuccessful challenges per game. Successful challenges do not count toward this number.

MLB umpires have long been derided for their work behind the plate. Implementing a challenge system makes perfect sense to mitigate the impact of missed calls on games. The league has already implemented replay reviews for on-field decisions. A ball-strike challenge system is the next logical step.