Starting in the 2026 season, Major League Baseball players will be able to challenge called balls and strikes in regular and postseason games for the first time.

The widely expected adoption of the challenge system — which is powered by baseball's automated strike zone, known as ABS — was announced Tuesday after years of testing in the minor leagues and a major-league debut this year in spring training and the All-Star Game.

The new system "[strikes] the right balance of preserving the integral role of the umpire in the game with the ability to correct a missed call in a high-leverage situation, all while preserving the pace and rhythm of the game," said MLB commissioner Rob Manfred in a press release.

Only batters, pitchers and catchers are allowed to challenge the umpire's cal

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