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MLB finalizes ABS challenge system for '26 season

Jesse Rogers

created: Feb. 13, 2026, 1:53 a.m. | updated: Feb. 13, 2026, 12:17 p.m.

Open Extended ReactionsSCOTTSDALE -- Major League Baseball finalized rules for the first year of the automated ball-strike (ABS) challenge system, which will debut on Opening Day this season. The league announced its final rules and guidelines during Cactus League media day on Thursday, about a week before spring training games begin. Among the highlights of the new system:• If a team enters extra innings without a challenge, they'll be given an extra one every inning. Teams will never have more than one challenge per extra inning unless they entered extra frames with their original two intact. • It's possible for both an ABS challenge and video replay challenge to occur on the same play.

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