For the first time, next week’s Major League Baseball All-Star Games in Atlanta will include the use of automated ball-stroke (ABS) system.
The ABS Challenge system, which allows players to request video reviews of a limited number of balls and strikes, may be allegedly a part of the regular season in early 2026 after being introduced in more than half of this year’s spring training games.
The system faces each team two challenges of balls or strikes in real time. A review triggered by a batsman, catcher or pitcher should be done immediately after the home plate umpire call or signal ball or strike. Manager and other players on the field cannot call for review.
Once indicated, a review at broadcast, or a digital riplay mango, is shown to the umpire and repeated on stadium video boards using Hawk-I technology. According to MLB, the audience of the broadcast feed will also see the same reply, stating that its research has shown that the strike zone challenge usually added a game in 17 seconds.
The ABS uses accurate measurement-om plate 17 inch wide, 53 percent of a batsman’s height on top of the strike zone, 23 percent of a batsman’s height below the zone-to overlay the laser-like digitized strike zone in the broadcast tracker of every pitch. When a challenge is given, the recurrence of the tracker is shown immediately.
The biomechanical analysis of the team’s height measurement was confirmed by the South -West Research Institute to provide accurate player dimensions for every batsman with a target of an accurately uniform strike zone. The depth of the zone, often offspide and breaking pitches, is the source of interrogation of balls and attacks, is flat and identical for every batsman: 8.5 inches from the front and back of the plate.
If the challenging team is considered correct, they maintain the challenge, much like the existing replay system.
The 95th edition of the MLB All-Star game takes place on Tuesday (8 pm ET, Fox) at Trit Park in Atlanta, with New York Yanki’s Aaron Boon, American League roster and Los Angeles Doders of Los Angeles Doders lead to representatives of the National League.
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