In the first four games of the 2026 regular season, the automated ball-strike (ABS) system has demonstrated its impact. In 35 games played, there have been 124 challenges, with 67 of them (54%) resulting in overturned calls. Pitchers and catchers have combined a greater number of challenges and a better success rate than hitters, although these figures are expected to vary considerably on a daily basis.

Most of the challenges so far have focused on pitches below the strike zone, which can be more difficult for umpires stationed behind the catcher to track.

Fans and players have quickly embraced the heightened accuracy that ABS fosters. At Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park, fans cheered when umpire C.B. Bucknor had two straight strike-three calls overturned in a game against the Red Sox. During that game, six more Bucknor calls were challenged, with four more reversed.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora, who was ejected from the game, commented on Bucknor: "He had one job to do, call balls and strikes. It wasn't his best day. That's what the [ABS] system does. It's out there. Everybody sees it, and he'll be the first one to accept it."

The joint baseball competition committee approved the introduction of ABS in the MLB regular season last fall. The technology, colloquially known as "robot umpires," has been a key storyline since the start of the new season. It is important to clarify that human umpires remain behind the plate in every game, and the system is based on challenges initiated by batters, pitchers, or catchers.

Widespread support for ABS is not completely universal, as some players and coaches have lamented disruptions to the normal flow of the game, especially inning-ending pitch calls, which, when reversed, can result in teams going back out on the field.

Red Sox pitcher Sonny Gray said, "I'm not a fan, but it is what it is. It's just a weird game we're playing now."

The adoption of ABS is based on the successful implementation of the pitch clock in 2023. This effort came after extensive testing in the affiliated minor leagues and in spring training, and produced significant results in reduced average game times and more action on the field, which in turn drove multi-year increases in attendance and national television viewership.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said at the Front Office Sports Tuned In summit: "The process that we went through with that set of [2023] rule changes was really instructive for the owners. We relied on fan research, we did a ton of testing to make sure we had a very good feel for what was going to happen... and our predictions turned out to be very accurate. That gives you the ability to go back to owners and say, 'Hey, we can change. We can change again, and we can do it in a way that's going to make your business better'".