Manfred to propose automated balls and strikes system for MLB in 2026

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MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred The aim is to implement an automated ball and strike (ABS) system next season.

Manfred announced Wednesday that he and his office will introduce proposals to the MLB Competition Committee to implement the 2026 system. The goal he had in mind Last summer.

“I think we’re trying to pursue the possibility of changing that process, and we’ll see what comes up at the end,” Manfred said Wednesday at MLB headquarters. Athletic.

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MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Getty Images)

“I think the team is really positive about ABS. You know, I have an unscientific system that I use – my email traffic – and my clear impression is that using ABS in spring training makes people tend to complain to the ball in email, and to me it’s definitely true and definitely true.”

The system was full-go in training this spring after a few seasons in the minor leagues. The team had two challenges per game, but they managed to maintain each challenge. Only the batter, pitcher or catcher could challenge the phone and had to be made immediately after the phone without help from the bench or other players.

However, there are still some twists that need to be tweaked.

“My single biggest concern is to work through the process and roll it out in a way that is acceptable to the players,” Manfred said. “There’s always something around the edge we need to get through, and we want you to respect the committee’s process and feel that there was a full airing of concerns about the system and an attempt to address those concerns before we could move forward.”

It’s an even bigger change in the sport commissioned by Manfred in 2023, which implemented pitch timers, larger bases and shift restrictions. However, fans seem to like change as attendance has increased over the past two years. It was the first time attendees have grown in consecutive seasons since 2011 and 2012.

New York Yankees Center Fielder Aaron Judge (99) and manager Aaron Boone claim the phone. (Wendel Cruz Usa is today’s sports)

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This should not affect the pace of play, as the average ABS challenge for minors took 17 seconds. This has increased significantly amid changes to the Commissioner’s rules.

“We negotiated the right to make changes to these kinds of rules,” Manfred said. “It was a very important part of the transaction from our perspective. Everyone knew what the rules of the road were. … Unlike previous regulations, there is a process in which you are actually involved and you have the opportunity to talk to the players about what is to happen.

But this is definitely the biggest change in all of them, and it will come at a very wild time: lockouts are looming with the end of MLB’s collective bargaining agreement in December next year.