In 2026, MLB officially introduced the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) challenge system during the regular season, after years of experimentation. José Caballero of the New York Yankees became the first player to utilize the ABS challenge, unsuccessfully disputing a strike call in the Opening Night game against the San Francisco Giants. Each team starts with two challenges, retaining successful ones, while the system allows for extra challenges in extra innings. The initial use of ABS in spring training hints at its potential impact on game outcomes as teams adapt to the technology.
