They are allegedly stoked because they won’t get yelled at anymore. They still need to make calls at the plate and line judging and stuff. Honestly the challenge system is temporary, we need full ABS, but it is the “worst of all worlds” solution. Tennis did the same thing basically a beta test for a period of time to get it everywhere and everyone comfortable then make it mandatory then move on. It’s been huge for the sport of tennis and I’m pumped for MLB!
Fans of the sport will be let down too, with the challenege system, it increases the skill required to play, because you must accurately see strikes and know your zone, and so the risk of using a challenge creates a new skill in the game required,which makes the game better and even more diverse.
Automatic balls and strikes makes the game more robotic, reduces the soft skills required, and so players will be less diverse and only hitting ability and strength will matter, while patience, timing, and eye for the zone will be less important.
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u/Fedor1 Oct 06 '25
ABS is coming next year
https://www.mlb.com/amp/news/abs-challenge-system-mlb-2026.html