Major League Baseball will begin testing a strike zone challenge system next year at spring training, commissioner Rob Manfred confirmed Monday.
Manfred previously said the automated strike zone system already used in some minor leagues to determine balls and strikes would have a trial run before being adopted at the highest level. But, he has said, it is likely to be in the form of a challenge system while still using human umpires rather than fully automated ball-strikes (ABS).
The commissioner appeared Monday on the YES Network’s “Yankees News & Views” show and confirmed that big leaguers will see the challenge system in spring exhibition games in 2025.
“We’ve decided we’re going to give it a whirl with the challenge system in spring training and see how it goes,” he said, giving no indication of a timeline beyond that point.
The current challenge system gives each team three contested calls of balls or strikes in a game. The process is streamlined to limit delays, with minor league batters able to tap their helmets to challenge. The pitch calls are checked using the ABS technology, and the call is either upheld or changed.
MLB has been deliberate in taking its time when considering rule changes such as a pitch clock and larger bases, and that includes testing and refining ABS and the shape of the strike zone.
“I’ve been going around the last three years trying to talk to players in the clubhouse — no agenda, not about labor issues or any of that — just talking about the game, trying to listen to what they’re saying,” Manfred said. “Overwhelmingly, players favor the challenge system (over a full ABS). That was not where we started; I’ve got to be honest with you.”
